SEWARD, Neb. – In terms of sheer number of matches, this will be the busiest week of the entire 2023 regular season for the Concordia University Volleyball team. Five matches are on this week’s docket as the Bulldogs will open GPAC play at Hastings before heading to North Sioux City, S.D., for a Labor Day weekend event hosted by College of Saint Mary. The wrap up to the week will feature the fourth-ranked Bulldogs up against sixth-ranked Park University (Mo.) in a rematch from the 2022 national tournament. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad enters the week at 3-0 after having defeated Langston University (Okla.) and No. 11 MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) at this past weekend’s Bulldog Bash.
This Week
Tuesday, Aug. 29 at (24) Hastings (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | | Live Stats | Location: Lynn Farrell Arena (Hastings, Neb.)
CSM/United Sports Academy Labor Day Classic: Sept. 1-2
--Live Stats | Live Webcasts | Location: CNOS Fieldhouse (North Sioux City, S.D.)
Friday, Sept. 1 vs. Rocky Mountain (5-3), 12 p.m. (Max Country)
Friday, Sept. 1 vs. Mayville State (2-0), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2 vs. Kansas Wesleyan (5-1), 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2 vs. (6) Park University (3-0), 5 p.m.
By the numbers
· In the early going of the 2023 season, Concordia stands as one of three GPAC squads without a blemish on its record. The three unbeaten teams in the GPAC are Hastings (4-0), Northwestern (4-0) and Concordia (3-0). Meanwhile, College of Saint Mary has started 7-1. Defending NAIA national champion Jamestown (3-4) has already suffered more losses than it did during the entire 2022 season. The next NAIA coaches’ poll is scheduled to be released on Wednesday (Aug. 30). In their current position at No. 4 in the national poll, the Bulldogs have equaled a program best for highest ever NAIA ranking. Concordia will have a chance to add to its résumé this week as it goes up against two nationally ranked foes and another two listed among others receiving votes.
· The victory on Aug. 25 over Langston goes down as one of the more lopsided triumphs for the Bulldogs during the GPAC era. Concordia breezed past the Lions, 25-7, 25-6, 25-7, inside Friedrich Arena. Concordia owned statistical advantages in kills, 40-10, hitting percentage, .581 to -.106, aces, 9-0, digs, 34-18, and blocks, 6-0. Ashley Keck and Gabi Nordaker were near perfect on the attack as both Bulldogs racked up 10 kills on 12 swings. Lexie Kreizel landed four aces and Becca Gebhardt topped the back row with nine digs. Langston dropped all three of its matches at the Bulldog Bash while faced with NAIA top 15 foes.
· In its first matchup this season with a ranked opponent, Concordia steamrolled 11th-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene, 25-15, 25-16, 25-15, behind a balanced effort. Keck led the way with 11 kills while Nordaker followed with 10. Setter Bree Burtwistle accumulated 33 assists as the Bulldogs outhit the Pioneers, .275 to .066. Other statistical leaders for Concordia were Cassidy Knust in aces (three), Camryn Opfer in digs (16) and Nordaker in blocks (two). A 1-3 start for MNU will likely lead to it dropping in this week’s national poll. The Pioneers have been defeated by No. 4 Concordia, No. 5 Northwestern and No. 22 Ottawa University (Kan.).
· The Bulldogs have the rare luxury of leaning upon three returning All-Americans on their 2023 roster. A two-time All-American, Camryn Opfer continues to add to her statistical profile. In 121 career matches, Opfer has totaled 1,373 digs, 1,294 kills, 178 blocks and 65 aces. In the middle, Nordaker has accumulated 921 kills and 346 blocks in 88 career matches. Lastly, Burtwistle has notched 2,157 assists, 621 digs, 82 aces and 75 kills in 87 career matches (including the 2019 season at Midland). Opfer needs 22 more kills to surpass Rachel (Miller) Kirchner for No. 4 on the program’s all-time kills list.
· Power volleyball is part of the formula for Concordia, which finished last season ranked No. 2 nationally in hitting percentage (.255). Through the first three matches of 2023, the Bulldogs sport a .298 hitting percentage that ranks sixth best in the NAIA. There are six Concordia players with at least 10 kills so far this season: Nordaker (28), Opfer (26), Keck (21), Maddie Paulsen (16), Kya Scott (13) and Carly Rodaway (11). Nordaker has put away her team high 28 kills on only 44 swings.
· This is year nine for Frank Greene as the Max Country radio play-by-play voice of Concordia Volleyball. Greene is one of the very first announcers to lend his talents to Bulldog audio and visual broadcasts going back to the early days of the GPAC. He also spent 11 seasons as head coach of Concordia Softball and is the winningest coach in the program’s history. Greene celebrated his birthday this past Sunday. He will be joined on many broadcasts this fall by Katie Funk, a Bulldog volleyball alum. Funk made her radio broadcast debut in this season’s first match.
The opponents
Hastings has jumped out to a 4-0 record with wins over Mid-America Christian, Oklahoma Wesleyan, Bethel (Kan.) and Kansas Wesleyan. The Broncos will attempt to end a six-match series losing streak against Concordia. Hastings is led by fifth-year head coach Alex Allard, who took the team to the national tournament last season. The Broncos return Second Team All-GPAC libero Miriam Miller and setter Makenna Asher.
Rocky Mountain has been a regular at the national tournament with all eight of its appearances coming since 2010. The Battlin’ Bears were situated as the first team outside the NAIA top 25 in the preseason. Head Coach Yang Yang’s squad begins the week at 5-3 overall having played one ranked opponent. Rocky Mountain fell in four sets at the hands of No. 23 Texas Wesleyan. The Battlin’ Bears graduated their one All-American from last season: libero Ayla Embry.
Mayville State made the program’s lone national tournament appearance in 2020 and is coming off a 17-18 record in 2022. The Comets picked up two wins over GPAC opponents this past weekend, taking care of Dordt in four sets and Mount Marty in three. Mayville State returned two Honorable Mention All-Americans: libero Natalie Hadrava and setter/outside hitter Elora Passa. Head Coach Katie Aasen is in her first season as head coach at her alma mater.
Kansas Wesleyan started the season at 5-0 before enduring a four-set defeat at Hastings this past weekend. The Coyotes enjoyed a strong ’22 campaign that saw them go 29-7 overall and qualify for the opening round of the national tournament. Head Coach Jessica Biegert’s squad brings back Honorable Mention All-American right side Rylee Serpan. Kansas Wesleyan is hitting .204 through its first six matches.
Park ended Concordia’s 2022 season in a national tournament matchup for a spot in the NAIA quarterfinals. The Pirates have the potential to make another deep run as they return three All-Americans in first team outside hitter Malaina Hensley third team middle blocker Debora Bernardi and honorable mention setter Jullia Alvarez. Thirteenth-year Head Coach Michael Talamantes’ squad will enter this weekend’s event at 3-0 with wins over Morningside, St. Ambrose and McPherson. In program history, Park has made 10 national tournament appearances and is a two-time NAIA national champion.
Next week
GPAC play will resume on Sept. 6 when No. 9 Midland will be at Friedrich Arena for a significant early season matchup. It will be the lone outing of the week for the Bulldogs.