Carthage Tops Nazareth in Molten Third-Place Match

Carthage College contributed to this release

KENOSHA, Wis. (April 17, 2010) – The host Carthage College men’s volleyball team (21-12), won the consolation match of the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship on Saturday at Tarble Arena, defeating Nazareth College (19-16), 30-25, 30-21, 30-26.

Randy Hansen led the Red Men of Carthage with 14 kills and a .407 attack percentage (14-3-27), while Matt Yanz had 12 kills and a .500 attack percentage (12-2-20). Tyler Frings collected eight blocks (4 solo, 4 assisted).

Hans Schroeder topped the Golden Flyers with 16 kills while hitting .357 (16-6-28), and Ellis Walsh had 11 kills and hit .450 (11-2-20).

In the championship match, Springfield (19-10) defeated UC Santa Cruz (15-7), 30-23, 32-30, 30-26, 30-22.

Springfield’s Alberto Bravo was named the tournament MVP. Teammates Eric Shoemaker and A.J. Nally were also named to the all-tournament team, along with Sal La Cavera III and Austin Einhorn from UC-Santa Cruz, Hansen from Carthage and Schroeder from Nazareth.

In Saturday’s consolation match, the first set was close most of the way. Carthage broke a 12-12 tie with a 9-3 run to take a 21-15 lead. Nazareth closed to within three on several occasions, including 28-25, but the Red Men took the final two points for a 30-25 decision.

Carthage opened up a 17-12 lead in the second set. The Golden Flyers pulled to within three, 20-17, before the Red Men went up by six, 23-17, en route to a nine-point win, 30-21.

In the third and final set, Carthage was leading by one point, 15-14, when the Red Men broke the match open with a five-point run to take a six-point lead, 20-14. Carthage went on to win by four, 30-26.

For more information on the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Championship, click here for Carthage's event page.

Now in its 14th year, the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship was formed due to a need for a culminating event for NCAA Division III men’s volleyball. While the NCAA sponsors a national championship for men’s volleyball, programs from all three divisions compete for just four berths in the yearly tournament. In the 40-year history of the NCAA National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship, no Division III program has earned a berth or been selected to participate in the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship.

Molten U.S.A., Inc. is the “Official Volleyball of the Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship.” Sports Imports is the “Official Net System Supplier of the Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship.” Mizuno USA is the “Official Apparel & Shoe Sponsor of the Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship.”

Tournament History with Final Placing:
2010: 1. Springfield; 2. UC Santa Cruz; 3. Carthage; 4. Nazareth (hosted by Carthage)
2009: 1. Juniata; 2. Stevens; 3. UC Santa Cruz; 4. Ramapo (hosted by Ramapo)
2008: 1. Springfield; 2. Vassar; 3. UC Santa Cruz; 4. Juniata (hosted by Springfield)
2007: 1. Juniata; 2. Carthage; 3. Springfield; 4. Stevens (hosted by Juniata)
2006: 1. Juniata; 2. UC Santa Cruz; 3. Stevens; 4. Rivier (hosted by Stevens)
2005: 1. Juniata; 2. Carthage; 3. Stevens; 4. Medaille (hosted by Stevens)
2004: 1. Juniata; 2. Medaille; 3. UC Santa Cruz; 4. Eastern Mennonite (hosted by Eastern Mennonite)
2003: 1. Springfield; 2. Juniata; 3. La Verne; 4. Stevens (hosted by Juniata)
2002: 1. Springfield; 2. La Verne; 3. NYU; 4. Lehman (hosted by NYU)
2001: 1. Springfield; 2. D’Youville; 3. Clarke; 4. Vassar (hosted by Springfield)
2000: 1. UC San Diego; 2. NYU; 3. D’Youville; 4. Stevens (hosted by Stevens)
1999: 1. La Verne; 2. D’Youville; 3. Clarke; 4. Juniata (hosted by Clarke)
1998: 1. Juniata; 2. La Verne; 3. Springfield; 4. Eastern Mennonite (hosted by Springfield)
1997: 1. Springfield; 2. NJIT; 3. Juniata; 4. UC San Diego (hosted by Juniata)

Tags: college, college volleyball, men, men volleyball ncaa, Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship