By Emma Bynes and Sophia Tozzi
After a packed first game inside Blake Arena in a matchup between home favorite Springfield College and Cal Lutheran, the stadium became much quieter. Although the atmosphere in the building was different than the first game, loved ones and family for both Carthage and Wittenberg made the trip all the way to Alden Street to watch their teams play. Despite a loss for Wittenberg after Carthage swept the semifinal matchup 3-0, their fans cheered until the very end.
“We take over away arenas, and it’s so reassuring to have people like that behind your back, no matter what,” Wittenberg senior Eli Halverson said. “I mean, we were down 19-11 in the third set. We come out of a timeout, they’re chanting, ‘Let’s go Tigers,’ that’s pretty awesome.”
Carthage displayed dominance by putting up 20 kills against the Tigers of the 25 points required to win a set; Ben Heise, Ryan Bartz, and Ruben Emmerich each contributed to the total kills of the set. From the beginning, the Firebirds controlled the tempo of the match with consistent offensive execution and disciplined play at the net. Their ability to convert opportunities into points created an early separation, forcing Wittenberg to play from behind. The Tigers struggled to find a rhythm offensively, as Carthage’s defensive structure limited extended rallies and kept momentum firmly on their side.
Although Wittenberg came out strong in the second set, thanks to some motivation from Jamie Peterson, Carthage eventually pulled away. The Tigers showed improved energy and briefly closed the gap, stringing together a few key points that suggested a potential shift in momentum thanks to a spirited crowd. However, Carthage responded quickly, tightening its rotations and capitalizing on scoring chances. Kills for the Firebirds this time were predominantly made by Heise, who played a central role in regaining control and maintaining pressure on Wittenberg’s defense.
As the match progressed into the third set, Carthage continued to execute at a high level, leaving little room for a comeback. Bartz added five kills in the set, contributing to his impressive total hitting percentage of .611. His efficiency highlighted the Firebirds’ overall offensive consistency, as they avoided errors and maximized scoring opportunities. Wittenberg fought to extend rallies and generate offense, but Carthage’s composure and precision proved too much to overcome.
“Yeah, our group was impressive today,” Carthage head coach JW Kieckhefer said. “100% side-out and set one, .667, 20 kills. We earned that one. To put down 20 kills in a set and set it 100 percent — we had to earn every second of that.”
13 of the total kills came from Ryan Bartz and 12 from Ben Heise, underscoring their impact throughout the match. Their combined production anchored Carthage’s attack and played a decisive role in securing the straight-set victory.
Wittenberg was the darling in this tournament, shocking the world to make the Final Four, but in this Cinderella story –– Carthage reigned supreme. The Firebirds will advance to the national championship game to face the Springfield College Pride on Saturday, April 25, at 7 p.m. This will be a rematch of the 2022 title game, which was played at Carthage College, marking another moment in this historic rivalry.
“You know, Springfield-Carthage has been a rivalry forever in Division III men’s volleyball, but these guys only have that experience from last year,” Kieckhefer said. “I think that when that last ball fell last year, it really felt like we’re going to wait 365 days to play the same match. I don’t know when it’s going to be, but we’re going to wait 365 days to play again, and we’ve got to earn it.”
Photo by Emma Bynes/The Student