SEWARD, Neb. – The next 16 matches for Concordia University, Nebraska will all be against GPAC opponents. The third-ranked Bulldogs wrapped up their nonconference regular season slate this past weekend with a 3-0 run at the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic in Omaha. Concordia defeated Lindsey Wilson University (Ky.) in three sets, Ottawa University (Kan.) in four sets and University of Saint Francis (Ind.) in three sets. The results pushed the record of Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad to 9-2. Up next, the Bulldogs will host in-state rivals Midland and College of Saint Mary.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 9 vs. No. 16 Midland (9-3, 0-0 GPAC), 7:30 p.m. | Whiteout
--104.9 Max Country | Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. College of Saint Mary (11-3, 1-0 GPAC), 3 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
• The first official NAIA coaches’ poll of the regular season was unveiled on Sept. 2. Having played a challenging nonconference schedule, the Bulldogs remained at No. 3 in the poll. The rest of the top five includes No. 1 Eastern Oregon University, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 4 Corban University (Ore.) and No. 5 McPherson College (Kan.). The GPAC is well-represented in the poll. In addition to Northwestern and Concordia, the NAIA top 25 features No. 11 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 16 Midland and No. 20 Morningside. Additionally, College of Saint Mary is listed in the “receiving votes” category.
• In this past weekend’s College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic, the Bulldogs took care of business while up against three unranked foes. Concordia play just one set above the minimum as it defeated Lindsey Wilson, 25-10, 30-28, 26-24, Ottawa, 25-23, 25-17, 17-25, 25-13, and Saint Francis, 25-19, 25-16, 25-16. Over those three matches, the Bulldogs owned statistical advantages in kills, 133-96, hitting percentage, .265 to .109, aces, 22-12, and digs, 125-121. Blocks were even at 18-18. The individual statistical leaders over the weekend were Shandy Fa’ali’i in kills (35) and digs (22), Laynee Baker in hitting percentage (.475), Myla Emery in assists (57), Kyla Griess in aces (five) and Bella Hedke in blocks (10). Emery and fellow setter Ella Brueggemann distributed the ball effectively as five Bulldogs notched at least 15 kills at CSM: Fa’ali’i, Baker (25), Makenna Starkey (22), Samantha Kimbell (20) and Hedke (15).
• On Sept. 4, Concordia was featured in NAIA women’s volleyball notebook No. 4 of the 2026 season. The article detailed how the program has maintained an elite stature while retooling the roster following the 2025 run to the national semifinals. As the feature stated, “In countering the graduation of a large and impactful senior class, Head Coach Ben Boldt and Associate Head Coach Angie Boldt doubled down on their process-oriented approach. Since their arrival in December 2017, the Boldts have preached love, trust, hard work and sacrifice as tenets of Concordia volleyball.” The entire feature can be read HERE.
• In her first season playing outside hitter, Shandy Fa’ali’i has become the Bulldogs’ go-to attacker. Among GPAC players, the Lincoln East High School product ranks third in kills per set (3.77) and fourth in total kills (147). The Boldts have put their trust in Fa’ali’i to play all six rotations, a role that was also placed upon recent All-Americans such as Ashley Keck and Camryn Opfer. In addition to her attacking statistics, Fa’ali’i has accumulated 99 digs, 19 aces and 10 blocks across 39 sets. Fa’ali’i is one of three Concordia players to have appeared in all 39 sets over the first 11 matches (she is joined by Myla Emery and Jenna Sladky in that category). Fa’ali’i’s best performance last week came against Lindsey Wilson when she put up 17 kills while hitting .367.
• After the weekend, the Bulldogs now rank ninth nationally for kills per set (13.46). In other national statistical categories, Concordia sits 17th in aces per set (2.59), 29th in blocks per set (2.15), 46th in hitting percentage (.203) and 110th in digs per set (14.79). An aggressive serving team, the Bulldogs roll out six players who have tallied at least 12 aces this season: Kyla Griess (21), Shandy Fa’ali’i (19), Ella Brueggemann (18), Myla Emery (14), Clara Evert (12) and Jenna Sladky (12).
• While the focus is placed largely upon the process, Concordia has created an expectation of competing for GPAC championships. In year one of the Boldts’ tenure (2018), the Bulldogs placed in a tie for seventh in the league standings. Since then, Concordia has posted GPAC finishes of third, third, tied for fifth, third, tied for first, second and second, respectively. The program has also appeared in five consecutive GPAC Championship Matches. The Bulldogs’ share of the GPAC regular season title came in 2023. In both 2024 and 2025, Concordia went 15-1 in GPAC regular season play and placed runner up to Northwestern.
The opponents
Midland is in the midst of year two under the direction of Micah Rhodes as head coach. He replaced the highly successful Paul Giesselmann prior to the 2025 season. Rhodes led the ’25 team to a 19-12 overall record and a trip to the final site of the national tournament. The Warriors have jumped out to a 9-3 start with three wins over top 25 teams in 2026. While hosting its own largescale event (The Midland Showdown), Midland took out No. 12 Oklahoma Wesleyan University and No. 14 St. Thomas University (Fla.). Rhodes welcomed back five 2025 GPAC All-Conference players, including first teamers Abree Plueger and Brooklynn Snyder, second teamers Lauren Jones and Brena Mackling and honorable mention award winner Claire Johnson. The Warriors have qualified for the national tournament in 12 of the past 13 seasons (six in a row). Midland is averaging 13.30 kills per set while hitting .223.
College of Saint Mary will look to return to the national tournament after missing out in 2024 and 2025. All 12 of the program’s national tournament appearances have come since 1998. The Flames have started hot in 2026 and raised their overall record to 11-3 after a 3-1 weekend at their own Labor Day Classic. CSM also got a head start on conference play back on Sept. 2 when it held off Hastings in five sets. Head Coach Rick Pruett is in his 10th season leading a program he’s taken to the national tournament four times (2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023). The Flames returned GPAC All-Conference players in second team middle blocker Azaria Green and honorable mention libero Elen Pruett. Before heading to Seward on Saturday, CSM will play at Doane on Wednesday. The Flames were picked sixth in the GPAC preseason poll.
Next week
Conference play will continue next week with the Bulldogs scheduled to play at Mount Marty on Wednesday, Sept. 16 before hosting Hastings on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Saturday match will be part of homecoming festivities on the Concordia campus.