SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Nothing will come easy at the final site of the 2023 NAIA Volleyball National Championship tournament. That sentiment proved true on Wednesday (Nov. 29) afternoon. In a battle between Bulldogs, the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team got better as each set wore on while triumphing over No. 21 University of Montana Western. The co-GPAC regular season champs dispatched of the Frontier Conference foe, 25-23, 25-21, 25-13, inside the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
The occasion marks the sixth all-time national tournament appearance (fifth at the final site) for Concordia. Meanwhile, Montana Western (22-7) is making its eighth appearance on the national stage (but first since 1987).
“I think trust was the big thing, knowing our block was going to be there and our defense behind our block would be there,” Boldt said. “We weren’t reaching for things. We were able to work through things offensively, stay patient and figure things out. That’s a controllable of ours, as far as how well we put ourselves in position. I think we trusted in each other and Ashley Keck took some big swings in that second set to put it away. I was just really happy we were able to do that – it was a tough match.”
Despite a lack of experience under the bright lights, Montana Western went toe-to-toe with Concordia over the first two sets. The Bulldogs of Dillon, Mont., carried the nation’s 12th-ranked block (2.32/set) into the match. The height and length of Montana Western was enough to contain Concordia to respective hitting percentages of .259 and .137 over the first two sets.
In the opening set, UMW fought off two set points in a row and got an ace serve from Kesley Goddard to get within 24-23. That’s when Keck surfaced for a kill to close it out. Then in the second set, Concordia found itself trailing 21-20 and showed its championship mettle by rattling off a 5-0 run, punctuated by the combined block of Keck and Gabi Nordaker. There would be no drama in the third set when the Bulldogs hit .297 and jumped out to a 12-2 advantage.
Said Boldt, “We talk a lot about our ability to recover. Whether we win the point or lose the point, you have to move on to that next ball. How fast we can do that is important. Just being ready for that next ball is 90 percent of volleyball. We’re going to have to continue to do that. The opponents get tougher and tougher. We have to keep climbing the mountain and take it one point at a time.”
UMW edged Concordia, 10-9, in the blocking department, but the GPAC champs found ways around their foe’s prowess at the net. Three Concordia players registered at least 10 kills, Carly Rodaway (12), Camryn Opfer (11) and Nordaker (10), and Keck added eight kills. In the middle, Nordaker totaled six blocks while Bree Burtwistle and Sara Huss got in on three blocks apiece. The GPAC Setter of the Year Burtwistle amassed 41 assists, 14 digs and two aces. In the back row, Becca Gebhardt cleaned up with an impressive 26 digs.
Many of the key performers for Concordia had already appeared multiple times at the Tyson Events Center. This is the expected final destination for players like Opfer (fifth national tournament). There was never a point on Wednesday when Concordia felt out of sorts.
Rodaway echoed Boldt’s comments about quickly moving on when a point goes the other way. Said Rodaway, “I feel like we’re really good at recovering after each point and sticking together through the hard moments. The first two sets were super close, but we knew we could get in our flow and work together in the third set … I feel like the experience (at the final site) brings confidence on the court. We know what to expect, we know how bright the lights are and we know when the pressure’s on. The past experiences helped prepare us.”
UMW got a team high nine kills from Peyton Vogl. In addition, Danyel Martin contributed five blocks. The Bulldogs hit .128 for the match. UMW will take on No. 13 Midland at 1 p.m. CT on Thursday.
Concordia can guarantee a spot in the NAIA national quarterfinals if it can beat Midland (16-11) on Friday. That pool play match will get underway at 1 p.m. CT from the Tyson Events Center. The Bulldogs toppled the Warriors twice during the regular season, winning in three sets in Seward and in four sets in Fremont. For more details on pool play, including how to follow the action live, click HERE. All matches at the national tournament are being carried live by 104.9 Max Country.