SEWARD, Neb. – A workmanlike effort got the job done in three sets on Wednesday (Oct. 14) as the third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team hosted its annual pink match in support of breast cancer awareness. Sophomore Makenna Starkey starred in the middle with nine kills and three blocks in the swift win over visiting Mount Marty, 25-15, 25-18, 25-21. The efforts of freshman Kyla Griess at the service line were also a major factor.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad improved to 19-3 overall (10-1 GPAC) while defeating the Lancers for the second time this season. The Boldts challenged their time to rise to another level down the stretch.
“We had a really good practice yesterday, and we identified a couple of things that we need to be really intentional about in our process of getting better,” Boldt said. “I thought we were intentional about them tonight, but we need to get better at them. They know that. Through the process, I don't want them to identify themselves or find their identity in whether they get a kill or don't get a kill. We just need to keep working on the process and putting ourselves in good positions.”
Other than digging an 8-3 hole to open the second set, the Bulldogs exercised control of Wednesday’s match. Four days after falling to Northwestern due in large part to inferior serving and passing, Concordia returned to form, flustering the Lancers with its serve (10 aces). Griess and junior Clara Evert posted three aces apiece and helped keep Mount Marty out of system. The Lancers hit just .082 (26 kills and 18 errors) for the night.
Statistically, Starkey led the way for the victors. He needed only 13 swings to accumulate her nine kills. Early in the third set, in successive rallies, Starkey drilled a kill and then rose for a solo block. Three of her teammates added seven or more kills, spurred by setters Ella Brueggemann (16 assists) and Myla Emery (17 assists): Shandy Fa’ali’i (nine), Samantha Kimbell (eight) and Bella Hedke (seven). In the back row, Jenna Sladky notched 12 digs. Fa’ali’i added to her stat line with six digs and two aces.
Mount Marty’s cause was hurt by the absence of all-conference middle hitter Caitlin Guenther. In attempting to pick up the slack, outside hitter Jaya Wachholtz led all players with 11 kills. It wasn’t enough as the Lancers (11-16, 1-10 GPAC) were outnumbered in all categories: 40-26 in kills, .267 to .082 in hitting percentage, 10-5 in aces, 45-43 in digs and 5-2 in blocks.
As a program with high aspirations, Concordia will continue to iron out all facets of its game.
Said Boldt, “I would honestly like to see a little bit more balance. We have to keep figuring out ways to kill the ball at a high efficiency from the right side. We have to keep working on that. Being balanced is a really good thing, and I think our setters do a good job with that. Our hitters have to put themselves in good positions to kill the ball.”
The Bulldogs’ next three matches will be played on the home courts of GPAC in-state rivals. That stretch begins on Saturday with a drive to Omaha, Neb., for a rematch with College of Saint Mary (16-7, 5-6 GPAC) for a 3 p.m. CT varsity first serve. In this season’s first meeting, contested inside Friedrich Arena, Concordia defeated the Flames in four sets.