2012 Men’s Volleyball Recap
Johanna Heidorn
Jon Storm ’15, #17 an outside hitter for the Carthage College Men’s Volleyball team, works with his teammates during a home game. The Red Men concluded their season with a program record of 29 victories having been swept by Springfield 3-0 in the NCAA Championship match on Sunday, April 29.
Savannah Schlicht, Staff Reporter
May 8, 2012
Filed under Sports
This was both a season of ups and downs for the Carthage Red Men. They pulled off a remarkable season with 29 wins and only six losses—a new record. While Carthage did not claim the first place title at the American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship, the team earned second place and had a more than memorable run this year. The five seniors graduating will be sorely missed by everyone on campus.
With so many victories in so short a time it’s hard to select specific moments and games to highlight from this past season. The most notable of course is the Red Men’s second place title at the first NCAA-sponsored Division III Championship.
During the quarter finals the Red Men took fourth place. Their set scores were 25-21, 27-25, 26-28, 21-25 and 18-16 against Nazareth College,. The University of California-Santa Cruz was defeated in the semi-finals with set scores of 25-23, 25-20, 20-25 and 25-18. In the final round the Carthage men’s volleyball team came close to first, but ultimately lost to Springfield College, who was hosting the tournament, with set scores of 25-21, 25-23 and 25-16.
“Our goal from the start of season was to win a national championship,” said sophomore Connor Wexter who plays setter, “and although we did not accomplish that we could not have come closer. With all the support of Carthage behind us, it was a good run and a great season.”
On top of those fine feats five of the players from the Red Men Volleyball team were given AVCA All-American honors this season. Randy Hansen ’12, the teams outside hitter, was also named “Player of the Year” by the American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III with 4.17 kills per set and a .361 attack percentage. Hansen along with Pat Berry ’14, who plays right-side, had 3.34 kills per set with a .318 attack percentage. Connor Wexter made 11.13 kills per set and received honors for the All-American first-team. Matt Yanz ’12, middle blocker, made 2.23 kills per set, 1.02 blocks per set, and had an attack percentage of .444. Mike Bynon ’12 who served as the team’s libero earned 2.18 digs per set. Both received second-team honors.
It’s hard saying goodbye to any teammate, especially with a team this skilled, but harder still to say farewell to good friends. James Shultz ’14, one of the Red Men Volleyball team’s outside hitters, said, “We really had a perfect season. Getting second sucked but this team is closer than any other team I have been on. We are like brothers, and though we came up a little short in the end, I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else.”
Best of luck to the five graduating seniors Mike Bynon, ‘12, John Condon, ’12, Tyler Frings, ’12, Hansen, and Yanz with their futures, and for those of us staying here at Carthage see you all next season!