KENOSHA, Wisconsin – The Mount Union men's volleyball fell to the defending national champions and No. 2 nationally-ranked Carthage (Wis.) in three sets 25-20, 25-16 and 25-20 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament Friday afternoon.
 
On the offensive side the Purple Raiders (14-12) were led by Luke Trzeciak (Cranberry, Pa. / Seneca Valley) with a game-high 11 kills on a .429 hitting percentage.
 
Defensively Mount Union was led by Steven Grenier (Hawthorn Woods, Ill. / Lake Zurich) with a game-high 11 digs. Jeremy Leyden (Cuyahoga Falls / Hoban) and Will Heeney (Hudson / Walsh Jesuit) led Mount Union with 15 and 12 assists respectively.
 
Carthage (21-3) was led by Zach Bulthius with a game-high 11 kills.
 
In set one Carthage got out to a 10-4 lead but the Raiders battled back with a 5-3 run to trail 13-9. A 5-2 run by Carthage pushed the lead out to 18-11 but once again Mount Union went on a run this time 4-0 to get within three. Carthage was too much for the Raiders as a 6-2 run pushed the lead to 24-17. Mount Union made a 3-0 run but was not enough dropping set one 25-20.
 
Mount Union got on the board first in the second set and was tied at 3 but Carthage went on a 7-2 run to go up 10-5. The Raiders battled to get the score within four at 16-12 but Carthage finished the set on a 9-4 run taking set two 25-16.
 
Set three began with a 5-1 lead for the Raiders. Mount Union kept that momentum going leading 9-4 but then a 10-4 run for Carthage gave them a 14-13 lead. Mount Union kept the battle as it had a 3-1 run to take a 16-15 lead. From there though was all Carthage as they finished on a 10-4 run to take the final set 25-20.
 
Mount Union's three seniors in Grenier, Leyden, and Sam Matonis (Macedonia / Walsh Jesuit) began with the program in 2018 and now finish up their careers with 54 victories. Leyden will finish with 2,439 assists, Grenier leaves with 1,044 digs, and Matonis finishes with 603 kills and 167 blocks.
 
Mount Union finishes the season with a overall record of 14-12 winning its first Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League Tournament and making the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament for the first time.