SEWARD, Neb. – In opening the 2025 season at home, the fourth-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team knocked off the rust. Just 11 days after reporting to campus for preseason preparation, the Bulldogs pummeled York University, 25-10, 25-8, 25-19, inside Friedrich Arena. Head Coach Ben Boldt called upon 16 different players for on-court contributions in the victory. Next up, the difficulty level increases as Concordia heads to The Hoosier State to take on a trio of NAIA nonconference foes, including top-ranked defending national champion Indiana Wesleyan University.
This Week – Power Quad at Indiana Wesleyan
Thursday, Aug. 21 vs. Columbia (0-0), 12:30 p.m. CT / 1:30 p.m. ET
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Luckey Arena (Marion, Ind.)
Thursday, Aug. 21 vs. MidAmerica Nazarene (0-0), 5:30 p.m. CT / 6:30 p.m. ET
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Luckey Arena (Marion, Ind.)
Friday, Aug. 22 at No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan (0-0), 11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Luckey Arena (Marion, Ind.)
By the numbers
· Expectations are understandably high for the Bulldogs, who have been ranked in the top five of the official NAIA coaches’ poll for 18-straight rankings, dating back to October 2022. Concordia is coming off a ’24 season that saw it finish at 27-4 overall (15-1 GPAC) and advance to the NAIA national quarterfinals. For the first time in GPAC history (2000-present), the Bulldogs began a season as the league favorite. In the GPAC coaches’ poll released on Aug. 13, Concordia pulled in seven of the 12 first-place votes. The Bulldogs were followed in the top five of the conference poll by Northwestern (five first-place votes), Midland, Morningside and Dakota Wesleyan. In the NAIA national poll, fourth-ranked Concordia sits behind only No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 2 Bellevue University and No. 3 Corban University (Ore.).
· With last week’s win over York, Ben Boldt improved his record as Bulldog head coach to 155-51 for a .752 winning percentage. That winning percentage ranks as the best among all head coaches in program history. Under the direction of Ben and Angie Boldt, Concordia has reached the final site of the NAIA National Championships in each of the past six years and has advanced to the national quarterfinals three times. From a conference perspective, the Bulldogs have placed third or better in the GPAC standings in five of the past six seasons. Concordia shared the GPAC regular season title in 2023 and has played in the GPAC Championship Match in each of the previous four years.
· In match No. 1 of the 2025 season, the Bulldogs made quick work of York, a school located roughly a 30-minute drive to the west. Concordia outhit the Panthers, .250 to -.039, and outnumbered them in kills, 44-14. Six different Bulldogs notched at least four kills: Ashley Keck (nine), Laynee Baker (seven), Maddie Paulsen (six), Ella Waters (five), Sydney Jelinek (four) and Molli Martin (four). Other statistical leaders in the win included Ella Brueggemann in assists (18), Lily Psencik in aces (three), Shandy Fa’ali’i and Emma Brueggemann in digs (13) and Paulsen and Ava Greene in blocks (three). Baker and the Brueggemann twins made their collegiate debuts while sophomore Clara Evert got her first varsity playing experience.
· With her match-high nine kills versus York, Keck moved her career kill total to 988, edging her closer to becoming the 11th player in program history to hit the 1,000 mark. Named 2024 GPAC Attacker of the Year and an NAIA First Team All-American, Keck is the headlining returner for a program that has become known for having a powerful offense. In addition to her 988 kills, Keck has compiled career totals of 781 digs and 76 blocks in 91 matches. Keck has been named an All-GPAC honoree in each of her first three years and was the 2022 GPAC Freshman of the Year.
· Keck is far from the lone prominent returner. Three other holdovers were GPAC All-Conference award winners in 2024: Ella Waters (first team), Addie Kirkegaard (second team) and Savannah Shelburne (honorable mention). Five returners produced more than 100 kills last season: Keck (379), Waters (293), Kirkegaard (237), Kya Scott (227) and Ava Greene (109). Counting Waters (a junior in terms of eligibility), the roster features 10 seniors, including last season’s setters, Shelburne and Lily Psencik. The most significant personnel departures come in the form of three-time NAIA All-American Gabi Nordaker and four-year starting libero Becca Gebhardt.
· With the losses to graduation of the likes of Gebhardt, Cassidy Knust and Ashlyn Wischmeier, the Bulldogs are in the process of breaking in a rebuilt back row. From the jump, the Boldts inserted freshman Emma Brueggemann into the lineup at libero. Additionally, sophomore defensive specialist Shandy Fa’ali’i jumps into a brighter spotlight while senior Kate Griess also takes on an increased role. From a defensive perspective, Concordia passed the test in last week’s season opener, holding York to a negative hitting percentage.
· The Bulldogs will learn a lot about themselves before opening conference play at Mount Marty on Sept. 6. The challenging nonconference slate features three teams ranked 16th or higher in the NAIA coaches’ poll: No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 5 Eastern Oregon University and No. 16 Viterbo University (Wis.). Additionally, two of this week’s foes, Columbia College (Mo.) and MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), are listed in the receiving votes category of the preseason poll. Concordia is joined in the NAIA top 25 by two fellow GPAC squads in No. 7 Northwestern and No. 20 Midland. Morningside and Dakota Wesleyan also received votes.
The opponents
Last year when the Power Quad took place in Columbia, Mo., the Bulldogs outlasted the host and then seventh-ranked Columbia Cougars in five sets, 22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 23-25, 17-15. Columbia went on to finish the ’24 season at 23-13 overall with the end of the journey coming via a loss at McPherson College (Kan.) in the opening round of the NAIA national tournament. In 2023, the Cougars reached the national quarterfinals. Head Coach Allison Jones-Olson enters her seventh season at the helm of the program, which has made 30 national tournament appearances all-time and is a winner of four NAIA national championships. The matchup with Concordia on Thursday will be the season opener for Columbia. The Cougars bring back American Midwest Conference Freshman of the Year Hannah Vogt at setter.
MidAmerica Nazarene fell to Concordia in straight sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-18) at the 2024 Power Quad. The Pioneers proceeded to finish with a 19-13 overall record while missing out on the national tournament. An MNU alum, Molly Karagyaurov is entering her seventh season leading the program. She took the Pioneers to the national tournament in 2020 and 2022. MNU has reached the national stage seven times in its history. The Pioneers graduated NAIA Second Team All-American setter Katrina Davis. However, MNU does return two 2024 second team all-conference players in outside hitter Isabella Munari and middle blocker Mia Olson. As part of a rugged first day of their 2025 season, the Pioneers will take on No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 4 Concordia.
Indiana Wesleyan enters 2025 coming off back-to-back NAIA national championship seasons. This past 2024 campaign, the Wildcats went 37-2 with their only two defeats occurring in the month of August (38-0 record in 2023). One of those losses came at the hands of the Bulldogs in five sets at the 2024 Power Quad. Now in her 23rd season as head coach, Candace Moats has been incredibly successful having won more than 1,000 matches overall in her collegiate coaching career. Notably, Moats attended the same high school as Ben Boldt, Norris High School. Moats has another supremely talented team as IWU brings back two-time NAIA National Player of the Year Eva Joldersma and two-time NAIA National Setter of the Year Abbigail Porter. Naturally, the Wildcats received all 19 first-place votes in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll. MidAmerica Nazarene will serve as IWU’s 2025 season opening opponent.
Next week
Another weekend event is on the docket. The Bulldogs will play four times at the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic (Aug. 29-30). On day one, Concordia will take on Ottawa University (Kan.) and No. 16 Viterbo University (Wis.) before shifting to day two action versus Bethel College (Kan.) and No. 5 Eastern Oregon University. All matches will take place inside the Lied Fitness Center Fieldhouse.