SEWARD, Neb. – Just 11 days after reporting to campus for preseason preparation, Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball opened a highly anticipated 2025 season by flexing its muscles. Ten different players registered at least one kill as the fourth-ranked Bulldogs trounced York University, 25-10, 25-8, 25-19, inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday (Aug. 16). Notably, Concordia stifled a Panther attack that posted a hitting percentage in the red.
The outing provided a glimpse at what Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad can be as 2025 progresses. In the process of winning convincingly, the GPAC favorite Bulldogs were able to tinker with lineup combinations.
“I thought our effort was good,” Boldt said. “The controllables we have in terms of our communication, attitude and effort were good. We kept that at a high level. Obviously, there is execution stuff that we can get better at. We were trying some different combos of players and connections. We saw some things we liked and some things we’ll need to continue to tweak and get better at.”
A stretch that saw Concordia rattle off 11 out of 12 points in the first set put York on its heels from the outset. Now closing in on 1,000 career kills, returning NAIA First Team All-American Ashley Keck supplied six of her match-high nine kills in the opening set. On the other side of the net, York never found any kind of offensive traction. By set, the Panthers hit, -.056, -.143 and .051, respectively. In the third set, the Panthers managed to pull even, 8-8, before the Bulldogs took control.
Statistically, Concordia displayed the type of balance that has become expected in recent years. Following Keck’s nine kills, five additional Bulldogs notched at least four kills: Laynee Baker (seven), Maddie Paulsen (six), Ella Waters (five), Sydney Jelinek (four) and Molli Martin (four). All the while, Concordia used three different setters: seniors Lily Psencik (14 assists) and Savannah Shelburne (seven assists) and freshman Ella Brueggemann (18).
Baker and the Brueggemann twins (Ella and Emma) made their collegiate debuts. Additionally, sophomore Clara Evert saw her first career varsity action. The pieces are fitting together admirably considering the abbreviated preseason.
Said sophomore defensive specialist Shandy Fa’ali’i, “We connect so well with one another. I know it’s only going to grow from here … Our coaches set such high expectations from the beginning. We’re all so open to being there (in that situation). We were ready to roll from the beginning.”
Fa’ali’I equaled Emma Brueggemann (the team’s new libero) for a team-high 13 digs in a remade back row. Keck also contributed eight digs. Up front, Ava Greene and Paulsen collected three blocks apiece. From the service line, the Bulldogs enjoyed an 8-1 advantage in aces. Multiple aces came from Psencik (three), Kate Griess (two) and Fa’ali’i.
Said Boldt of the team’s serving, “I thought we hit our zones pretty well. I think we can get a little tougher in our serve with better hand contact on the ball, but it’s to be expected (the first time out). Mentally, I thought we were pretty tough back there.”
Keck pushed her career kill total to 988 as she nears the 1,000-mark, a milestone achieved by 10 players in the history of the program. Two others coached by the Boldts have reached 1,000 kills at Concordia: Camryn Opfer (1,561) and Gabi Nordaker (1,433).
Concordia’s next eight matches are scheduled to take place away from Friedrich Arena. Coming up next week, the Bulldogs will take part in the Power Quad (Aug. 21-22) hosted by defending national champion Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. The slate for the Power Quad is listed below.
Power Quad | Marion, Ind. (Aug. 21-22):
· Thursday, Aug. 21 vs. Columbia College (Mo.), 12:30 p.m. CT / 1:30 p.m. ET
· Thursday, Aug. 21 vs. MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), 5:30 p.m. CT / 6:30 p.m. ET
· Friday, Aug. 22 at Indiana Wesleyan University, 11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET