Dupage Policy Journal

The CCIW men's volleyball teams are gearing up for a series of matches this weekend, with games scheduled from Friday, March 14 to Saturday, March 15. North Park will face Illinois Tech and #15 UC Santa Cruz in Thousand Oaks, California on Friday. The following day, #4 Carthage is set to compete against #10 Aurora, while North Park takes on #7 Cal Lutheran. Other notable matches include MSOE versus #13 Loras and Illinois Wesleyan at Augustana.

In the latest Division III rankings by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), Carthage maintains its position as the fourth-ranked team nationwide. "Carthage kept its claim as the nation’s fourth-ranked team," receiving 510 points in the poll. Loras holds the 13th spot, and North Central is ranked 19th.

Several players have made their mark nationally with impressive statistics. Evan Dziadkowiec from Loras leads Division III with 11.05 assists per set. Corey Mayotte, also from Loras, tops the charts with 5.20 kills per set and 5.92 points per set. Gavin Rohlwing of Illinois Wesleyan ranks sixth in blocks per set.

Around the CCIW, Augustana's Colin Schaefer achieved his fourth double-double of the season despite a loss to Carthage last Saturday. "Schaefer now averages 9.50 assists per set in 2025," contributing significantly to his team's performance.

Owen Otto from Carthage earned Hitter of the Week honors after a strong performance against Augustana. "Otto is currently the league’s third-leading scorer," highlighting his impact on Carthage's success this season.

Other standout performances include Jace Milka from Illinois Wesleyan who scored 23.5 points in a recent match victory over Augustana, and Nolan Krygsheld from Loras who recorded his fourth double-double since February.

North Central's Cooper Lundal contributed significantly to a win over Augustana with a .714 hitting percentage and eight block assists. Ty Ingrao from North Park also demonstrated his skills despite a loss to Carthage earlier this month.

Overall, these matches highlight competitive play within the CCIW as teams continue their season with eyes on further accomplishments both individually and collectively.