DUBUQUE, Iowa – The No. 14-ranked Loras College men's volleyball team took down the No. 1-ranked Carthage College Firebirds in five sets inside the Lillis Athletic & Wellness Center on Saturday afternoon in a tightly-contested conference matchup. 

Loras (17-4, 3-3 CCIW) came out hot to begin the first set, jumping out to an 8-3 lead. The Duhawks were able to maintain their lead for the majority of the opening set, but Carthage (16-3, 5-1) would not be denied and was able to keep the score close before eventually tying it up at 17-17. The Firebirds went on to win the first set, 25-18 

The second set was eerily similar to the first with Loras jumping out to a lead early despite hard fought efforts from the Firebirds to keep the contest close. The score was back-and-forth after a tie at 15-15 until a Carthage error paired with a Bo Brainerd III kill put the Duhawks up 20-18 late in the set. Carthage came back to tie the set at 22-22, but it was not enough as Loras won the second set 25-22 to tie the match 1-1. 

The third set was hard-fought with neither team able to pull away from one another or hold a lead greater than three for the entirety of the set. Service errors from both sides extended the set well past the 25-point threshold. A kill from Connor Jaral paired with yet another Carthage error secured the 28-26 set three victory for the Purple and Gold. 

Loras dominated the early portion of set four, catapulting themselves to an 8-3 lead. Carthage then uncorked an 11-1 run to make the score 14-9 about halfway through the set. The Duhawks' efforts were not enough, and the Firebirds were able to tie the match 2-2 after taking set four, 25-20. 

The fifth set started with a kill from James Pirocanac followed by another from Jaral. Both teams fought relentlessly in the final set with the game on the line. Carthage, despite their efforts, was unable to claim a lead at any point and the Duhawks would go on to upset the nation's top team after back-to-back kills from Bo Brainerd III gave them a 15-11 fifth set victory.  

The Purple and Gold were led by Brainerd who finished with 13 kills and three blocks. Elijah Passey put down 10 kills, while Jacob Strahan pitched in nine kills and a block. Evan Dziadkowiec eclipsed the 800-assist mark on the season after dishing out 29 assists, bringing his season total to 807, which ranks amongst the highest in all of Division III. 

Up Next: The Duhawks will travel to Bloomington, Ill. on Wednesday, March 25 to take on the No. 20-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University Titans. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. from the Shirk Center.