SEWARD, Neb. – Before shifting focus to this week’s showdown, No. 2 Concordia University, Nebraska University Volleyball had to find ways to survive five-set battles this past weekend in its Sioux City swing. The Bulldogs managed to survive strong upset bids from Morningside and Briar Cliff while keeping the win streak intact. With that treacherous journey in the books, Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has all eyes on Friday’s matchup with No. 7 Northwestern, a clash between GPAC co-leaders. Concordia will also host Waldorf on Saturday as part of homecoming festivities. The Bulldogs enter the week sporting an overall record of 15-1 (8-0 GPAC).
This Week
WHITE OUT – Friday, Oct. 10 vs. No. 7 Northwestern (16-3, 8-0 GPAC), 8 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
--Free t-shirts for first 100 students.
Homecoming – Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Waldorf (9-7, 1-7 GPAC), 4 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· Make it 21 top five NAIA coaches’ poll appearances in a row for the Bulldogs, who remained at No. 2 in the poll released on Oct. 1. There were some shakeups after No. 1 Eastern Oregon University and Concordia within the top five. The Nos. 3 through 5 squads are University of Providence (Mont.), Corban University (Ore) and Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Based on the current NAIA poll, the Bulldogs own ranked wins over No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 16 Viterbo University (Wis.) and No. 18 Midland. This season’s lone defeat came at the hands of Eastern Oregon, which is a spotless 18-0 on the season. According to Massey Ratings, Concordia has played the NAIA’s 21st most challenging schedule to this point. The season’s first set of RPI and ARC ratings are scheduled to be released today (Oct. 7). Links to those ratings can be found via the NAIA website.
· It was a little like pulling teeth, but the Bulldogs escaped Sioux City, Iowa, with a pair of five-set victories last week. Concordia was limited to a .136 hitting percentage for the weekend and had to survive 19 blocks by Briar Cliff, the NAIA’s leading blocking team. The Bulldogs packed strong defensive play of their own on the road and held Morningside and Briar Cliff to a .137 collective hitting percentage and to only 10.7 kills per set. Individual statistical leaders for Concordia over the two road wins were Ashley Keck in kills (41) and aces (three), Savannah Shelburne in assists (52), Emma Brueggemann in digs (61) and Ava Greene in blocks (13). It was also a fine weekend for Ella Waters, who produced 29 kills on the strength of a .277 hitting percentage.
· Dating back to last season, Concordia has won 18 straight GPAC regular season matches. The string began after a five-set home loss at the hands of top-ranked Northwestern on Sept. 28, 2024. During the active GPAC regular season win streak, only one of the matches prior to last week had gone to a fifth set – the Oct. 19, 2024, clash with Dordt in Sioux Center, Iowa. Going back farther, the Bulldogs have won 26 of their last 27 GPAC regular season contests. Since the start of the 2024 season, Northwestern is the only GPAC team that has managed to topple Concordia.
· All-American Ashley Keck is nearing another milestone. She hit the 1,000-kill mark for her career in match No. 2 of this season. The Kearney, Neb., native enters the week having accumulated 1,207 kills and 995 digs. Five more digs will make her the fifth player in program history to reach 1,000 in both categories. Bulldogs who have accomplished the feat are Becky Ernstmeyer (1,740 kills / 2,235 digs), Camryn Opfer (1,561 kills / 1,671 digs), Renae Beikmann (1,223 kills / 1,187 digs) and Darcy Lindner (1,204 kills / 1,187 digs). A three-time All-American, Opfer was a teammate with Keck for two seasons (2022 and 2023). In 2025, Keck continues to lead all GPAC players in kills per set (4.07).
· Opposing teams are hitting just .085 with an average of 10.44 kills per set this season. The opponent hitting percentage ranks best among all GPAC teams. The Bulldogs’ first six GPAC foes all hit below .100: Mount Marty (.083), College of Saint Mary (-.016), Midland (.056), Doane (.075), Hastings (.054) and Dordt (.049). Last week’s opponents had slightly more success as Morningside hit .111 and Briar Cliff hit .167. Nationally, Concordia ranks fifth in digs per set (18.85) and seventh in blocks per set (2.54).
· As just a freshman, Emma Brueggemann is quickly establishing herself as one of the GPAC’s best liberos. With a combined 61 digs (6.10 per set) last week, Brueggemann rose to the top of the GPAC’s leaderboard for digs per set at a 5.20 average. Her efforts have been recognized with GPAC Defender of the Week awards announced on Sept. 16 and Sept. 30. Over the past four outings, Brueggemann has been particularly productive in the back row having averaged 6.06 digs per set over that stretch. As a reference, the current NAIA national leader, Jaci Drinnon of the University of Mobile (Ala.), averages 6.43 digs per set.
· Among GPAC teams, Concordia ranks first in kills per set (13.24), first in digs per set (18.85), third in hitting percentage (.194) and third in blocks per set (2.54). The Bulldogs are the only team in the GPAC to rank in the top three of the conference in each of those four statistical categories.
The opponents
Something’s got to give on Friday as Concordia puts its 18-match GPAC regular season win streak up against Northwestern’s 33-match GPAC regular season win streak. The Red Raiders last dropped a conference regular season outing to College of Saint Mary back on Sept. 29, 2023. Officially, Northwestern lists its 2024 overall record at 33-0 due to a forfeit that was enacted after the fact. The Red Raiders were bounced from NAIA pool play last season in what had been a four-set defeat at the hands of Montana Western. The program has experienced incredible success under 21st-year Head Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch, whose list of achievements include 15 national tournaments, 15 total GPAC championships and a national runner-up claim in 2023. As usual, Northwestern is a strong blocking team (No. 3 in the NAIA at 2.96 blocks per set) behind All-American middle Zavyr Metzger (1.99 blocks per set). The Red Raiders have reloaded after graduating 2024 First Team All-Americans in Alysen Dexter and Jazlin Douma. Northwestern has a more balanced attack this season with six different players having totaled at least 98 kills, led by 139 from Stella Winterfield. Its opponents are hitting only .103. The Red Raiders have taken four-straight meetings from Concordia. Five of the past six Concordia-Northwestern matchups have gone the full five sets.
Waldorf picked up its first GPAC win of the season in its most recent outing as it edged Hastings in five sets this past Saturday. The Warriors finished 2024, their first season as a GPAC member, at 11-14 overall (5-11 GPAC). Bri Ebenhoe is in her ninth season leading the program while simultaneously serving as a professor in the Health Promotion & Exercise Science department at Waldorf. The Warriors returned one All-GPAC player from last season in senior right side Anna Longhenry (honorable mention). She leads the team with 137 kills (2.21 per set) on the season. Freshman middle blocker Peyton Klooster has made an immediate impact and paces Waldorf with 1.08 blocks per set. As a team, the Warriors average 11.40 kills per set while hitting .149. Their opponents are hitting .131 with 10.71 kills per set. The weekend slate for Waldorf will also include a Friday night clash with No. 18 Midland.
Next week
The Wednesday-Saturday schedule configuration will return next week with road trips coming up to Hastings on Oct. 15 and to Dakota Wesleyan on Oct. 18. After this week, only two regular season home matches will remain on the slate.