Maureen Harty Executive Director | College Conference Of Wisconsin And Illinois
Maureen Harty Executive Director | College Conference Of Wisconsin And Illinois
The fifth annual College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men's Volleyball Championship is set to commence with semifinal matches in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Dubuque, Iowa, on Wednesday. Carthage College, the top seed, will compete against fourth-seeded Augustana at Tarble Arena, while the second-seeded Loras College will face third-seeded North Central at the Lillis Athletic & Wellness Center. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Winners of these semifinals will advance to the championship match on Saturday, which will be held at the highest remaining seed's venue.
Tickets for all three matches of the championship are available through cash payment. Admission rates are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children aged six and over, while children under five can enter for free. CCIW students can gain free entry with a student ID, and no passes are accepted.
In Kenosha, Carthage, riding a national ranking of sixth, enters the tournament with a 20-3 overall record. Their 9-1 CCIW record secured them the regular-season title outright. On their home court, the Firebirds boast an 11-1 record this season and seek their third tournament championship since winning back-to-back titles in 2021-22.
Augustana, with a 12-13 record overall and 2-8 in the conference, has reached the semifinals for the second year in a row. The Vikings locked in their tournament bid based on set differential, despite their winless record against Carthage in 16 matches since 2018, including two losses this season.
In Dubuque, Loras, the defending tournament champion, ranks tenth nationally with a 17-4 record. Their home performance features a 7-1 record, with the sole loss coming against Carthage. Past meetings with third-seeded North Central leave them with a 10-9 series lead. North Central brings a national ranking of 14th into the match, holding an overall record of 15-6 and having handed Carthage its single conference defeat.
Loras looks to extend its five-match winning streak over North Central, including last season's semifinal win. All attention now turns to the proceedings on Wednesday night to determine the championship finalists.
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