SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University volleyball team is coming off an impressive 2-0 week within the GPAC. To repeat that feat this week the Bulldogs will have to be at the top of their game. Head coach Ben Boldt’s squad will be at Hastings on Wednesday and then at No. 9 Midland on Saturday. Hastings is 5-4 at home while Midland is 7-2 within in the confines of its own arena. Both matches will have promotional events. It will be pink night for Hastings on Wednesday. Saturday will be homecoming at Midland.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct 2 at Hastings (7-8, 2-3 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Oct. 5 at (9) Midland (13-4, 5-1 GPAC), 3 p.m.
-Live Webcast/Stats
The forward momentum continues for Concordia volleyball under Ben and Angie Boldt. The 15-2 record is the best for the program after 17 matches since the 2005 squad raced out to an 18-0 mark. At 4-2 in conference play, the Bulldogs are already close to equaling their league win total of five from a year ago. In last week’s action, Concordia went on the road and toppled Doane in straight sets and then used its powerful attack to pummel No. 25 College of Saint Mary at home. It was the type of response the Bulldogs had hoped for after GPAC losses to Morningside and Midland.
It was another monster week for senior middle blocker Emmie Noyd. A two-time second team All-GPAC honoree, Noyd stands a good chance of first team accolades this season and perhaps even All-America recognition. Over the past two wins, Noyd totaled 23 kills and 12 blocks while hitting .455. Among all NAIA players, Noyd ranks sixth in hitting percentage (.374), 25th in kills per set (3.82) and 27th in blocks per set (1.11). Concordia displayed a particularly balanced attack versus College of Saint Mary with Noyd, Kara Stark, Arleigh Costello and Camryn Opfer each notching at least nine kills.
Overall this season, the Bulldogs have outhit their opponents, .268 to .129. They also have a large advantage in kills per set – 14.16 to 9.74. Such numbers have helped Concordia land at No. 12 in the up-to-date NAIA Massey Ratings. The Bulldogs may also begin to receive votes in the national poll that will be released on Wednesday. Concordia was placed at No. 7 in the official GPAC poll that came out on Monday (Sept. 30).
Hastings followed up its four-set loss at Concordia on Sept. 4 by winning four matches in a row. That streak was halted with road defeats suffered at the hands of Morningside and Midland. The Broncos experienced a transition this offseason with Matt Buttermore departing to become the head coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Hastings has a dependable right side in Lucy Skoch, who tops the squad with 2.44 kills per set.
The Warriors were dealt their first GPAC loss last week when Morningside upset them in Fremont in five sets. Midland’s previous three defeats this season all came against teams rated in the top 10 nationally. Head coach Paul Giesselmann has presided over a program that has been a perennial GPAC title contender. In the five-set Warrior victory over the Bulldogs on Sept. 14, Midland gave Concordia fits with its serves. The Warriors put up 11 aces. On the other end, the Bulldogs had four aces and nine service errors.
Coming up next week, Concordia will host Doane on Oct. 9 and Morningside on Oct. 11. Five home matches remain on the regular-season slate.