Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu

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NAPERVILLE, Ill. (April 7, 2026) – The 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Men's Volleyball Tournament begins Wednesday night with the semifinal matches beginning at 7 p.m. in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Bloomington, Illinois, respectively. The North Central men's volleyball program squeaked into the postseason after posting a 10-12 regular season record and a 4-6 mark in CCIW play. The Cardinals will travel North to Kenosha to face the top-seeded Carthage College Firebirds.

The Field: This year's tournament field is made up of three American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) top-20 squads and North Central, which entered the season ranked in the AVCA top-20. No. 4 Carthage College won the regular-season title with a 9-1 record; No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan University turned heads by finishing second at 8-2; and No. 10 Loras finished third with a 6-4 record in CCIW play. The Cardinals finished fourth at 4-6 to fill out the tournament field, while Augustana (3-7) and North Park (0-10) did not qualify for postseason play.

The Firebirds and the Cardinals will meet in Kenosha at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, while the Titans and Duhawks will do battle in Bloomington at the same time. The winners will meet in the championship match on Saturday afternoon.

North Central (10-12, 4-6, CCIW)

Can You Dig It?: Jonathan Brown was selected as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in digs per set (3.07) and finishing second in total digs with 261 despite playing in 11 fewer sets than the leader, Ben Zima (268 digs). Brown's campaign ranks as the best single-season in terms of digs in program history, while his 3.07 digs per set ranks as the second-best average in CCIW history and currently sits as the 11th-highest mark in Division III.

The Kills King: Brannen Almarales' 321 kills this season rank as the second most kills by a Cardinal in a single season. His mark leads the team and the conference. His 3.65 kills per set ranks 25th in the country and second in the CCIW. He's been the Cardinals' number one option on offense this year, taking 9.56 swings per set (12th in Division III). He also ranks third in digs per set with 2.70.

Setting Up for the Future: Having to replace the productivity of Tyler Donovan, the Cardinals have turned to two setters this season: Freshman Angelo Delgado and junior PJ Vaughan. Vaughan saw the bulk of his playing time come in the early stages of the season, while Delgado has been the primary option over the final few weeks of the regular season. Delgado ranks fourth in the CCIW with 8.17 assists per set, while Vaughan is in sixth with 5.95 assists per set. Delgado's 474 assists rank as the 10th-most assists in a single season in program history.

Patrolling the Net: Coach Kevin Kustura has used a steady rotation of middles throughout the year, mainly Mitchell Hester, Chris Mactal and Connor Davis. BK Bartlett and James Bullock Jr. have seen an uptick in playing time over the last handful of matches as well.

Block Party: Mactal and Hester both rank in the top-10 in the conference in blocks per set. Mactal (0.85) ranks second while Hester (.73) ranks sixth. Hester tied the program record for blocks in a match with nine against Augustana a few weeks back. Davis turned in a top-10 block performance in his own right back in January, logging six blocks against Concordia University Chicago.

Battle Tested: The Cardinals completed the 21st hardest schedule in Division III this season, during which they played nine AVCA top-20 opponents and two others that were receiving votes. Of those 11 contests, six were conference matches.

No. 4 Carthage (20-3, 9-1)

Firebird Firepower: The Firebirds boast one of the best offenses in the country. They hit at a .329 clip (second in Division III) while putting home 13.08 kills per set, which ranks fifth in the country and second in the CCIW.

Top-Dog: Ryan Bartz, who led the conference in kills per set this season with 3.90, was named the CCIW Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday. Bartz also finished seventh in hitting percentage in the CCIW this season, with a .330 clip.

That's Ah-Morey: CCIW Co-Setter of the Year Ryan Morey was vital to Carthage's success this season. He averages 9.94 assists per set, the eighth best in Division III.

All-CCIW Selections: Ben Heise joined Morey and Bartz on the All-CCIW First Team, while Ruben Emmerich, Owen Hendricks and Hudson Sweitzer all were selected for the Second Team.

No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan (21-5, 8-2)

From the Bottom to the Top: After being slated to finish fifth in the preseason poll, Illinois Wesleyan sent shockwaves through the conference with an 8-2 campaign, and finished one match back from claiming the regular-season title. The Titans' coaching staff, led by Brandon Mueller, was chosen as the conference's Coaching Staff of the Year after directing the program's turnaround.

Spread the Love: The Titans dish out the second most assists per set in Division III (12.36), aided by Ethan Kuziela's 6.26 assists per set in their two-setter system.

Wearing Many Hats: Kuziela also averages 3.21 kills per set while hitting at a team-leading .347 clip, helping him to earn All-CCIW First Team honors.

All-CCIW Selections: Joining Kuziela on the all-conference list are Aydin Provost and Gavin Rohlwing, both of whom were selected to the second team.

First Year Success: Freshman Aydin Provost was tabbed as the CCIW First-Year Student Athlete of the Year after a 295-kill campaign.

No. 10 Loras College (20-5, 6-4)

Setting Up for Success: Evan Dziadkowiec has been a steady presence at the setter position for the Duhawks this season, earning CCIW Co-Setter of the Year honors after averaging 9.94 assists per set (ninth in Division III).

Bo Knows Volleyball: Bo Brainerd III has done it all for Loras this season, earning All-CCIW First Team honors as a result. He has swung at the seventh-highest percentage in the country this season, connecting at a .435 rate while putting home 2.96 kills per set. Brainerd also leads the team in blocks per set, averaging 0.798, the fourth-best mark in the CCIW.

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day: Roman Rothermel was also selected to the All-CCIW First Team after hitting at a .433 clip this season (eighth in Division III) while averaging 2.93 kills per set and .700 blocks per set.

All-CCIW Selections: Rothermel and Brainerd were both chosen as All-CCIW First Team members, while Dziadkowiec and Brady Oberfoell were selected to the second team.

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