Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Feb. 9, 2026) – For the third consecutive week, a North Central men's volleyball player has secured College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Defensive Player of the Week Honors. Chris Mactal claimed the title for the second time this season – and for the second time in three weeks – after an 11-block weekend at the net for the Cardinals.
Mactal, who has totaled 37 blocks early on in the campaign, made his presence felt in both of North Central's matches last week. On Friday night, against Wisconsin Lutheran College, Mactal collected five blocks in a 12-point effort to help North Central to a sweep (its first of the season) over the Warriors.
On short rest, Mactal one-upped himself, denying six Calvin University attacks at the net in the four-set win over the Knights on Saturday afternoon. His performance tied with two other CCIW student-athletes for the best single-match performance last week. His Friday block total tied for fourth in the conference.
Over the weekend, Mactal had two solo blocks and contributed to nine combination blocks, giving him 11 blocks on the weekend, which ranked first in the CCIW. He also led the conference in blocks per set last week, averaging 1.57 blocks per set.
With 37 blocks thus far on the season, Mactal now averages 1.121 blocks per set, which is the best mark in the CCIW, and the 11th best in Division III.
Averaging 4.625 blocks per match, Mactal is on pace to finish just short of the single-season program record for blocks (104 in 2023 by Jeremy Cardenas) in the 22-match regular season schedule. A postseason appearance would put him on pace to break the record.
The Cardinals have two challenges ahead of them this week as they take on RV Dominican University on the road Thursday and then head up North to take on No. 19 Milwaukee School of Engineering on Friday.
