KENOSHA – St. Norbert College gave nationally ranked Carthage College a challenge in two sets until succumbing to a 3-0 loss in a non-conference game at Tarble Arena.  

The Green Knights (6-9) fell to the Firebirds 25-16, 25-20, 25-21.  

St. Norbert trailed by 12-10 in the first set after a kill from Kade Nelson (pictured, center) until a 12-5 run from Carthage to end the set saw the Firebirds run away with the lead. Kills from Kaden Kornaus, Barry Applewhite and Jacob Van Ooyen gave St. Norbert a 9-6 lead in the second set. The Firebirds closed the lead to one point to trail 16-15 and retook the advantage thanks to a 8-0 run to give Carthage a 23-17 lead. Two kills from Noah Cullen gave the Green Knights a small sign of life before the Firebirds took the set.  

A 4-0 run for St. Norbert had the Green Knights leading 8-6 in set three off three attack errors from Carthage. A trio of kills from Van Ooyen made it 15-12 until another lengthy 7-1 run from Carthage made it 19-16, locking up the third set.  

St. Norbert hit .074 for the match, with 26 kills against 20 errors in 81 attempts. Van Ooyen had nine kills while Nelson had six. Michael Whitney had 25 assists while Cam Doty had two aces.  

Ryan Conway had eight digs while Kornaus had five.  

Carthage hit .325 for the match, with 38 kills against 13 errors in 77 attempts. Ryan Bratz led the Firebirds with 12 kills.