Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Sarah Schwacher, Shooting Sports
A senior from Waterford, Wis., Sarah Schwacher emerged from the Concordia Bulldogs Sporting Invitational last week as the female high overall champion with 270 targets hit out of 300. She also outshot all females in super sporting (93/100) and sporting clays (177/200).
Male: DJ McGarvie, Football
A freshman from Valparaiso, Neb., DJ McGarvie was named the GPAC Offensive Player of the Week after totaling five touchdowns (three passing / two rushing) and 309 yards of offense in the 34-0 win over Dakota Wesleyan. McGarvie has thrown for 10 touchdown passes and has rushed for two more on the season.
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
Sept. 28 – Wyatt Hambly (shooting sports) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
Sept. 21 – Camden Sesna (cross country) / Lina Kirst (soccer) / Grace Reiman (cross country) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
Sept. 14 – Caydren Cox (football) / Mikeila Martinez (soccer)
Sept. 7 – Drew D’Ercole (golf) / Ivan Yabut (golf) / Erica Heinzerling (volleyball)
Aug. 31 – Martin Herrera (soccer) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball)
News and notes:
BAAM luncheons are held every Tuesday at 12 p.m. CT inside the Dog House Grill, located in the Janzow Campus Center. The luncheons feature reports from head coaches who are in season at the time.
Game/event days on campus: Concordia Athletics continues to welcome fans to its venues for sporting events. Currently, there are no attendance limits. Before visiting road venues involving Bulldog teams, fans should be sure to check the spectator policies on those particular campuses. Other locations may require the use of face coverings. Once again, fans attending varsity sporting events at Concordia are able to purchase advance tickets online via HomeTown Ticketing. Tickets will also be sold on site on the day of events. Should any policies or protocols for fans change, updated information will be available on the athletics fan information page HERE.
Shooting Sports wins own invitational while hosting sixth annual event: While hosting the sixth annual Concordia Bulldog Sporting Invitational (Oct. 2-3), Concordia Shooting Sports took first place. The event was staged at Oak Creek Sporting Club in Brainard, Neb., and featured competition in the disciplines of super sporting and sporting clays. Each athlete shot at 300 targets. The Bulldogs wound up cracking 1,338 targets, holding off second-place Midland (1,319). Sarah Schwacher took the title of high overall female while hitting more targets in both super sporting and sporting clays, among women. The team’s top five overall shooters were: Colten Uitermarkt (272), Schwacher (270), Russell Malterud (269), Wyatt Hambly (266), Sam Blevins (259) and Damien Stewart (259). For a detailed recap of the event, click HERE.
Tennis teams host first duals of 2021-22 season: Cam Long made his home debut as head coach of the Concordia Tennis programs this past Saturday (Oct. 2) as the women’s and men’s teams hosted nonconference opponents. The women earned a 5-2 win over NCAA Division III Wartburg College (Iowa) while taking five of six singles matches. On the other hand, the men fell by a 6-1 score to Iowa Central Community College, one of the nation’s top junior college programs. Both teams are coming off impressive 2020-21 seasons that saw the women share the GPAC regular season title and the men place as the league runner up in the regular season and postseason. For more information on the tennis programs, click here: Men | Women.
Remembering the 1981 football team: A number of formers coaches and players from the 1981 Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship Concordia Football team were on campus this past weekend in celebration of the 40th anniversary of that season. Then Head Coach Larry Oetting guided the ’81 team to a 9-1 overall record and a No. 12 final NAIA national ranking. For a closer look at the 1981 season, click HERE.
Smith looking to build upon breakthrough 2020-21 hoops season: Concordia Men’s Basketball standout Gage Smith made a quantum leap forward from the 2019-20 to 2020-21 seasons while taking on a starting role. The native of Elizabeth, Colo., earned Second Team All-GPAC accolades wile helping the Bulldogs to a 14-6 GPAC record. Said Smith, “I didn’t care what the other teams thought, honestly. I just wanted to show my team that I could step into this role.” For a profile on Smith, click HERE.
Bulldog Coaches Show airs every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT: The Bulldog Coaches Show is underway in its seventh year of existence. The show airs live for a half hour every Thursday beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT on KTMX-FM 104.9 Max Country. The weekly feature can also be heard live via 104.9 Max Country’s website or by downloading the Max Country app. Throughout the 2021-22 season, Bulldog football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball contests will be aired live on Max Country. Parker Cyza serves as the host of the coaches’ show as well as the play-by-play voice for football and basketball. Frank Greene is in his seventh season calling Concordia volleyball.
Concordia Sports Network: Live webcasts for most home varsity contests can be accessed by visiting https://www.cune.edu/athletics/watch-bulldogs at game time. Beginning in 2019-20, Concordia Athletics partnered with PrestoSports for live video and statistical streaming. For more details on this change, click HERE. Check team schedules/results pages for webcast dates. Scrimmages, exhibitions and junior varsity events are not broadcasted.
Football
· It was a happy homecoming Saturday (Oct. 2) for the Bulldogs, who dominated Dakota Wesleyan in a 34-0 blowout victory. Concordia easily overcame a minus-two turnover disadvantage (two lost fumbles) by outgaining the Tigers, 442-138. Dakota Wesleyan managed a grand total of seven first downs. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad moved to 2-3 with both wins coming at home in decisive fashion (also defeated Briar Cliff, 61-21). For more information on Concordia Football, click HERE.
· Quarterback DJ McGarvie enjoyed his most productive day so far in his young collegiate career. The freshman from Valparaiso, Neb., (Lincoln North Star High School alum) totaled five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) and 309 combined passing rushing yards (210 passing, 99 rushing). McGarvie completed 14-of-19 passing attempts while striking for touchdowns tosses of 33 yards to Garrett Schardt, 13 yards to Luke Lang (first career touchdown) and 22 yards to Art Anderson. McGarvie became the first Bulldog quarterback to total five ore more touchdowns since Von Thomas did so at Hastings in 2014.
· Since the rough season opener at No. 3 Morningside, the Concordia defense has tightened the screws. The shutout last week marked the first for the program since winning 44-0 at Hastings on Sept. 21, 2019. In 13 Dakota Wesleyan offensive possessions, nine drives resulted in punts and four ended with turnovers on downs. The Tigers failed to reach the red zone even once. DWU quarterback Kiel Nelson accumulated only 89 passing yards while going 15-for-34. Meanwhile, standout running back Jamin Arend gained just 30 yards on 13 carries. The 138 total yards were a season low for Bulldog opponents.
· Since surrendering 652 yards to Morningside, the Concordia defense has allowed yardage totals of 154 to Briar Cliff, 403 to Dordt, 393 to Northwestern and 138 to Dakota Wesleyan for a four-game average of 272.0 per game. Those results have vaulted the Bulldogs up to No. 43 in the NAIA in total defense (348.2) and No. 52 in scoring defense (28.4). Opponents are averaging only 127.0 rushing yards per game. The scoring defensive rank has been hurt by Concordia having surrendered two pick-sixes and a kick return touchdown.
· Schardt, a First Team All-GPAC selection in 2020, may be one of the NAIA’s best tight ends. With four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown last week, Schardt took over the team lead in season receiving yards with 245. Schardt also has 12 receptions and two touchdowns on the year. His career totals now stand at 52 receptions for 929 yards and six touchdowns. McGarvie’s other top targets have included Korrell Koehlmoos (19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns), Cayden Beran (17 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns) and Anderson (10 catches for 927 yards and one touchdown).
· In terms of productivity, the top Bulldog defensive players have been linebacker Lane Napier and Caydren Cox. Napier entered last week as the NAIA’s leading tackler. He’s now second in the nation with 61 tackles (to go along with a sack, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery). Meanwhile, Cox paces Concordia in tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (4.5). Cox currently ranks third among GPAC players in sacks. The native of Beloit, Kan., registered 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in last week’s win.
· The longest road trip of the season is up next as the Bulldogs will be in North Dakota on Saturday to take on Jamestown (2-3, 2-2 GPAC) at 1 p.m. CT. Concordia has won two of the three meetings with the Jimmies since they joined the GPAC beginning with the 2018 season. The most recent trip to Jamestown (in 2019) was a memorable one with the result being a 13-10 Jimmie victory in four overtimes in a contest played on a field of almost entirely mud. The Bulldogs won last season’s matchup, 23-3, in Seward.
Golf
· The most pivotal action of the fall takes place in late September/early October for the Concordia Golf programs. The men completed the two fall rounds of the 2021-22 GPAC Championships in Elkhorn, Neb., on Sept. 28 and are currently in sixth place. Meanwhile, the women were in the midst of conference championship action at the time of this posting on Tuesday (Oct. 5). On the first day of the GPAC tournament, the women’s team shot a score of 351 and sat in seventh place. Head Coach Brett Muller’s programs are nearing the end of their fall seasons. For more information on Concordia Golf: Men | Women.
· The men’s team finished up the fall portion of the GPAC Championships on Sept. 28 and currently reside in sixth place (298-308–606). The Bulldogs have shown obvious improvement from last season when they placed ninth in the GPAC and the team’s average round was 319.4. With two conference rounds yet to be played in the spring, Concordia is within shouting distance of the likes of Briar Cliff (588), Midland (588), Northwestern (600) and Doane (602) in the GPAC pecking order – Morningside (571) is the GPAC leader.
· Ivan Yabut’s confidence is soaring. He turned in a 71-74–145 (+1) last week at the conference championships and currently sits in sixth place, four strokes out of first. Over his past five rounds of action, Yabut has turned in respective scores of 70, 65, 75, 71 and 74. The 65 represented a program record for a single round. The Burke High School alum is on track to make a big jump from his 31st-place GPAC finish in 2020-21. His season scoring average of 72.5 is tops on the team.
· Freshman Justin Webert turned in Concordia’s top score of even-par 72 on day two of the GPAC Championships. That performance pushed Webert into a tie for 29th (81-72–153) out of 54 conference golfers. The final three in the Bulldog lineup over the first two GPAC rounds were Jack Williams (74-80–154; T-31st), Drew D’Ercole (77-82–159; T-41st) and Jake Hagerbaumer (76-84–160; T-43rd). D’Ercole closed the 2020-21 season as Concordia’s top GPAC finisher at 21st (80-82-70-85–317). Hagerbaumer and Webert made their debuts in conference tournament action while Williams entered the week having played in six GPAC rounds in his career.
· Monday marked the start of Kendra Placke’s quest for a fourth-straight all-conference award. The Seward High School product shot an eight-over-par 80 in round one and sits in sixth place out of 59 conference golfers. Placke is six strokes behind tournament leader Sofia Castelan of Morningside. Over the previous three seasons, Placke has turned in respective GPAC place finishes of fifth, sixth and seventh. Placke entered the week with a season scoring average of 79.3.
· Lincoln, Neb., native Lauren Havlat has the ability to challenge for an all-conference placement. She is currently tied for 14th after carding an 86 on Monday. She placed 36th in the GPAC last season. The rest of the lineup includes Mya Nurse (92; T-39th), Logan Eschliman (93; T-42nd) and Emily Jensen (97; 48th). Eschliman and Havlat both competed in all four GPAC championship rounds last season. As a program, the Bulldogs placed third in the GPAC in both 2019-20 and 2020-21.
· Once the women finish up play on Tuesday, the final remaining event of the fall will be this Friday and Saturday’s Nebraska Intercollegiate, which will feature Nebraska men’s and women’s squads. The event will be staged at Norfolk Country Club in Norfolk, Neb., with action beginning at 1 p.m. CT on Friday and then resuming at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The college golf season will resume again in the spring of 2022.
Cross Country
· So far so good for Concordia Cross Country, which has made clear improvement since the fall ended a year ago. In the third outing of the season, the Bulldogs turned in place finishes of second (out of 12) on the men’s side and fourth (out of 11) on the women’s side at last week’s Briar Cliff Invitational (Oct. 1) held at Adams Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, S.D. Both of Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads managed to beat out all GPAC and NAIA competition at the meet. For more information on Concordia Cross Country, click HERE.
· The Bulldog women, ranked No. 15 in the NAIA (most recent poll released on Sept. 23), have not yet been defeated by a GPAC or NAIA foe in any of the three meets this season. Concordia previously placed eighth out of 27 teams at the Augustana Twilight (Sept. 3) and first out of five teams at the Morningside Invitational (Sept. 17). The Bulldogs made a big splash at the Augustana Twilight by outracing Dordt, which was ranked sixth in the NAIA at the time. Meanwhile, the men placed 12th out of 31 teams at the Augustana Twilight and first out of seven teams at the Morningside Invite.
· The Briar Cliff Invite featured a total of 133 runners in the men’s 8k race. This marked the third-straight meet to open this season that Camden Sesna has emerged as the top Dawg. His time of 26:03.30 last week was just a bit behind his personal best from two weeks earlier. Sesna outpaced all GPAC and NAIA foes while also outkicking many NCAA Division I competitors. Once again, Calvin Rohde (26:12.11) was next in line behind Sesna. The team’s top five was rounded out by three rookies in Sam Plante (27:39.29), Charlie Hayden (27:40.75) and Jack Ellis (27:53.38). See the team’s complete top 10 below.
· Concordia men’s top 10 place finishers (8k):
9. Camden Sesna – 26:03.30
14. Calvin Rohde – 26:31.43
35. Sam Plante – 27:39.29
37. Charlie Hayden – 27:40.75
41. Jack Ellis – 27:53.38
46. Nathan Pennekamp – 27:58.18
48. Thomas Gorline – 27:58.81
55. Wyatt Lehr – 28:41.80
59. Ethan Pankow – 28:54.47
63. Owen Dawson – 28:59.16
· The Briar Cliff Invite featured a total of 130 runners in the women’s 5k race (one turn adjustment was made to the course compared to two weeks earlier at the Morningside Invite). Rylee Haecker rose to the head of the pack for the Bulldogs by clocking in at 18:54.31, more than 30 seconds faster than her mark two weeks earlier. The team’s top runner at the first two meets, Grace Reiman checked in next in line by running 19:06.22. A freshman from Perryville, Mo., Courtney Wright made a big jump forward in placing third on the team while shaving nearly a minute off her previous appearance at Adams Nature Preserve. Wright was one of five rookies in Concordia’s top 10 last Friday (see full top 10 below).
· Concordia women’s top 10 place finishers (5k):
20. Rylee Haecker – 18:54.31
26. Grace Reiman – 19:06.22
33. Courtney Wright – 19:22.12
35. Amie Martin – 19:30.94
37. Keri Bauer – 19:36.08
39. Rhaya Kaschinske – 19:37.89
45. Kaia Richmond – 19:59.54
74. Abi DeLoach – 21:12.50
80. Faith Williamson – 21:28.43
86. Lauren Dawson – 21:43.08
· At the Briar Cliff Invite, the Concordia women finished behind only the likes of two NCAA Division I teams, University of South Dakota (first) and South Dakota State University (third), and one NCAA Division II foe, University of Nebraska-Kearney (second). Once again, the Bulldogs handled their GPAC competition, outrunning Morningside (fifth), Northwestern (sixth) and Mount Marty (10th). The Bulldog men placed as the Briar Cliff Invite runner up behind only NCAA Division I University of South Dakota. Notably, the Bulldogs (93 points) placed above NCAA Division II University of Nebraska-Kearney (fifth) as well as GPAC foes Morningside (seventh), Mount Marty (ninth) and host Briar Cliff (11th).
· Concordia Cross Country will wait until Saturday, Oct. 23 to return to action at the Mount Marty Invite at Fox Run Golf Course in Yankton, S.D. The meet will serve as the final outing prior to the GPAC Championships (Nov. 6). The schedule was set up to allow for recovery and training following each meet.
Men’s Soccer
· Had the Bulldogs taken care of business last week as hoped, they would be talking about a pair of wins. However, Concordia came up short in a 1-0 home loss to Midland on Sept. 29 before responding with a 5-1 blowout victory at Dakota Wesleyan on Oct. 2. The Bulldogs gladly turned the page on the month of September, which saw them go 2-5-1 with four losses coming by one-goal margins. Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad now stands at 5-5-1 overall and at 3-2 in conference play. For more information on Concordia Men’s Soccer, click HERE.
· The five goals scored in Mitchell, S.D., helped exercise some demons for the Bulldogs, who had struggled to find the back of the net for most of September. During seven games in September, Concordia totaled a combined six goals (and was shut out three times). The five goals at Dakota Wesleyan represented a season high, surpassing the Bulldogs’ production in wins by scores of 4-2 over York College and 4-0 over Tabor College (Kan.). On the season, Concordia has collected 19 goals in 11 games.
· The Bulldogs had the advantage in shots, 13-8, in last week’s loss to Midland. The lone goal of the match was delivered by Jared Money in the 57th minute. Immediately following the goal, a red card was issued to the Warriors, who played down a man for the final 33 minutes. Throughout that time, the ball lived in Concordia’s attacking third. During the second half, the Bulldogs outshot Midland, 8-3, and held a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks. Concordia had hoped to duplicate last season’s results when it defeated the Warriors twice.
· The floodgates opened up at Dakota Wesleyan after Yessine Bessaïes converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute. Goals followed from Garrett Perry (12’), Carter Hinman (42’) and Isaiah Shaddick (48’; 77’). Bessaïes also earned credit for two assists. Notably, Shaddick (Lincoln, Neb.) recorded his second multi-goal game of the season and the third of his career. Meanwhile, Hinman (Gretna, Neb.) notched the first goal of his collegiate career. With 17 career goals, Perry owns the most among active Bulldogs.
· While the results haven’t been exactly what Concordia had hoped for through the early part of October, it has positioned himself to be hang with every opponent on its schedule. Three of the five defeats have come against opponents currently ranked or receiving votes nationally: No. 11 Bellevue University, No. 23 Northwestern and Grand View University (Iowa) (receiving votes). Almost every game has been tight – nine of the 11 matches have been decided by margins of two goals or less. With six games remaining in the conference regular season, the Bulldogs are tied for third place in the GPAC with nine points – behind Briar Cliff (6-1 GPAC) and Northwestern (5-0 GPAC).
· It will be another challenging week within the conference as Concordia hosts Morningside (6-4, 3-2 GPAC) at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday and then travels to Jamestown (3-4-2, 2-2-1 GPAC) for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. The Mustangs received votes in last week’s NAIA national poll. In last season’s meetings, the Bulldogs defeated Jamestown, 4-1, and slipped at Morningside, 3-0.
Women’s Soccer
· Concordia went 1-1 last week in two games decided by identical 1-0 scores. The Bulldogs edged Midland, 1-0, on Sept. 29 before falling at Dakota Wesleyan, 1-0, on Oct. 2. It’s been a string of nail-biters going back to the previous week when Concordia tied with Dordt and Northwestern. Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad stands at 5-3-2 overall and at 2-1-2 in the GPAC. With eight conference points, the Bulldogs currently reside in fifth place in the GPAC. For more information on Concordia Women’s Soccer, click HERE.
· The loss at Dakota Wesleyan snapped the program’s string of 14-straight games without a defeat against GPAC opponents. During the streak, the Bulldogs went 10-0-4 and won the 2020 GPAC tournament title. Prior to last week, the program’s most recent loss at the hands of a GPAC opponent was a 3-0 decision at Morningside on Oct. 7, 2020. It wasn’t the only lengthy streak versus conference opponents in recent years. From October 2016 to October 2018, Concordia went 22-0-4 in GPAC regular season contests.
· The matchup with Midland was mostly a midfield, defensive-oriented battle. The two sides combined for a total of five shots in the second half of last week’s matchup. The Bulldogs got all the offense they wound up needing when Cheyenne Smith took advantage of a gaffe by the Warrior keeper and tapped in a goal in the 45th minute. It was quite a return for Smith, who had not played since the season opener due to injury. Smith saw action off the bench in both of last week’s outings. Kalie Ward made five saves in the win over Midland in the process of recording the clean sheet.
· Concordia came away from the trip to Mitchell, S.D., believing it had played well enough to win – it just couldn’t buy a goal. The Bulldogs put 10 shots on goal, including four from Aliyah Aldama. Down 1-0 at the break, Concordia came out of halftime and exercised control (10-3 shot advantage over the final 45 minutes). The Bulldogs just couldn’t break the goal line. Tiger keeper Hannah Trumbull made 10 saves in the process of locking down the clean sheet. It marked the third time Concordia had been shut out this season and first time since Sept. 8 versus nationally ranked Benedictine College (Kan.).
· The Bulldogs continue to live on the razor’s edge against conference opponents. The streak detailed above had been in danger on several occasions. Dating back to last season, eight of Concordia’s last night games against GPAC squads have either ended with one-goal margins or in draws. The lone exception was the 7-0 rout of Mount Marty on Sept. 18. There isn’t a lot of margin for error when goals are at a premium. The Bulldogs have tallied a total of 17 goals through 10 games. Four Concordia players are tied for the team lead with two goals apiece.
· This week, the Bulldogs will be up against two teams currently situated above them in the GPAC standings. Concordia will host Morningside (6-2-1, 3-1-1 GPAC) at 5:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday and then travel to Jamestown (10-0, 5-0 GPAC) for a 4 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. The battle in North Dakota will be a rematch of last season’s GPAC championship game won by the Bulldogs, 2-1, in Seward. Concordia last beat Morningside in the 2018 GPAC quarterfinals.
Volleyball
· The only match of last week ended in heartbreak as the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs came up just short at No. 3 Midland. The Warriors held off Concordia, 19-25, 25-14, 25-19, 13-25, 15-13, in Fremont, Neb., on Sept. 29. The Bulldogs lost despite outhitting Midland, .269 to .221. The contest marked Concordia’s 10th match this season against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes nationally at the time of first serve. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad sports records of 9-7 overall and 4-4 within the conference. For more information on Concordia Volleyball, click HERE.
· The five-setters have all gone the other way so far this fall. The Bulldogs have fallen in five sets at the hands of No. 3 Midland, No. 8 Bellevue University, No. 10 College of Saint Mary (twice) and No. 22 Columbia College (Mo.) (using the current national rankings). In both losses to CSM (17-3, 7-2 GPAC), Concordia had match-point opportunities in the fourth set. In other words, the Bulldogs’ overall record doesn’t properly indicate how the program continues to compete at a national level. Massey Ratings currently lists Concordia as the No. 20 team in the NAIA. The official NAIA coaches’ poll includes seven GPAC teams ranked in the top 25.
· The set scores painted a picture of alternating stretches of dominance in the match at Midland. The Bulldogs had their way in the first and fourth sets while the Warriors exercised control in the second and third sets. A six-kill performance in the fourth by Camryn Opfer helped pave the way for another five-set pulse pounder. Concordia never had a match point opportunity, but a hotly contested fifth set was enough to make one reach for the Pepto Bismol. Midland celebrated when Cortlyn Schaefer pounded the match-point kill. Not only did the Bulldogs outhit the Warriors, they also recorded more kills, 63-53, and blocks, 12-11. Opfer paced Concordia with 17 kills and 13 digs.
· Statistically, Opfer has stood out for her contributions in all areas this season. The third-year member of the program and product of Seward High School leads the Bulldogs in both kills (191) and digs (182) while having also totaled 18 blocks and 13 aces. No player on the active roster has more career kills than Opfer’s 745. Two of Opfer’s teammates have at least one kills this season: Gabi Nordaker (175) and Erica Heinzerling (121). Meanwhile, three other Bulldogs have notched 148 or more digs: Cassidy Knust (166), Tara Callahan (152) and Rebecca Gebhardt (148). Setter Tara Callahan is averaging 10.22 assists per set.
· Heinzerling’s play at outside hitter has been a feel-good story for Concordia. Over her first three seasons as a Bulldog, Heinzerling saw action in a total of 34 sets and posted 38 kills. She stuck with it. In year four with the program, the native of Ankeny, Iowa, has taken advantage of increased playing time and has averaged 2.33 kills per set while hitting .207. Heinzerling equaled a career high last week with 13 kills (.333) at Midland. Heinzerling came to Concordia along with a class that included the likes of Arleigh Costello, Morgan Nibbe and Jadeyn Stutzman.
The Bulldogs will be back to playing twice this week. They will be at Doane (16-5, 4-4 GPAC) for a 7:30 p.m. CT first serve on Wednesday before readying to host No. 18 Dordt (10-5, 2-4 GPAC) at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Concordia has won eight matches in a row over the rival Tigers. On the other hand, the Bulldogs hope to avenge last season’s NAIA national quarterfinal loss to the Defenders. Dordt enters this week on a four-match skid.