KENOSHA, Wis. – Second-ranked Carthage proved too much for Augustana Saturday, defeating the Vikings in three sets at Tarble Arena for the CCIW Tournament championship. Coach Mike Ducey's outfit finishes the year 9-7, with three of those losses coming at the hands of the now 20-0 Firebirds.
 
Parker Connolly had two kills as Carthage jumped in front 10-1 on its way to a 25-15 game-one win. Gary Dodovich (St. Benedict HS, Chicago, Ill.) had three kills as Augustana fought back to get within six (13-7). The Vikings still trailed by six (19-13) before Carter Schmidt had four kills, including one for set point, in a 6-2 Firebird closing run.
 
A Zach Bulthuis kill snapped a 2-2 tie in game two and sparked a 5-0 Carthage run. Bulthuis teamed with Matt Slivinski on a block that gave the Firebirds their biggest lead at 20-9. Dodovich had three kills and Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) a kill and an ace as Augustana won eight of 12 points before another Schmidt kill provided set point in a 25-17 Carthage win.
 
A Slivinski kill broke the last tie (4-4) in game three. The Vikings trailed just 11-8 before the hosts ran off seven straight points. Kills by Bryce Thomas bookended the spree. After the margin reached 21-9, Murphy and Dodovich had two kills each as Augustana claimed seven of 10 points to cut the deficit to 24-17, but a Bulthuis kill gave the Firebirds match point.
 
Murphy finished with 10 kills and Dodovich nine. Sanchit Khaitan (Glenbard North HS, Bloomingdale, Ill.) had 25 assists. Defensively, Brett Kliegl (Neuqua Valley HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) contributed 11 digs and John Cunningham (Hononegah HS, Roscoe, Ill.) was in on three blocks.
 
Schmidt delivered a match-high 11 kills for Carthage and Gene McNulty chipped in 29 assists and 13 digs.