NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – Every test has been passed thus far by the second-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team. In action on Saturday (Sept. 2) in North Sioux City, S.D., the Bulldogs completed a 4-0 weekend with a revenge victory over No. 6 Park University (Mo.). Ashley Keck swatted 26 kills on the day, Concordia limited its foes to a .112 hitting percentage and left South Dakota with wins by scores of 25-19, 25-15, 25-14, over Kansas Wesleyan University and 25-22, 25-16, 16-25, 25-23, over Park. All matches took place at the CNOS Fieldhouse as part of the CSM/United Sports Academy Labor Day Classic.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has moved to 8-0 as it continues to chase the 10-0 start put forth by the 2022 team. The win over Park meant a little something more considering the Pirates ended the Bulldogs’ 2022 season a win shy of the national quarterfinals.
“I thought our resiliency was really good,” Boldt said. “The margins were really small in the Park match. It was back and forth the whole time. In the end, our blocking really took over in the last couple of points. That was the difference. One of the keys to success that we talk about is having the mentality of owning the net. We kept saying that over and over again – own the net. After you get in the 20s, you want to be tough. We went out there got those key blocks.”
With Park looming later in the day, Concordia showed focus in not overlooking Kansas Wesleyan. The Bulldogs outhit the Coyotes, .300 to .082, and got 11 kills from Keck. Concordia enjoyed a significant advantage in service (9-0 in aces) as three individuals landed two aces apiece: Bree Burtwistle, Lexie Kreizel and Ashlyn Wischmeier. In addition, Gabi Nordaker supplied eight kills and two blocks and Maddie Paulsen chipped in with seven kills and four blocks. Burtwistle was credited with 27 assists and nine digs.
That set the stage for the most anticipated match of the weekend. Both squads returned three All-Americans from last season. The Bulldogs struggled to contain middle blocker Debora Bernardi (11 kills on 18 swings) but countered with another balanced effort. Both Nordaker and Carly Rodaway got in on six blocks in holding the Pirates (4-2) to a .132 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, Keck led the attack with 15 kills and Becca Gebhardt accumulated 16 digs. Two others hit double figures in kills: Nordaker (11) and Kya Scott (10).
Park had its chances to push it to a fifth set. The fourth was deadlocked at 23-23. Concordia then celebrated after Paulsen delivered a kill and a Park attack misfired. The early season barometer would indicate that the Bulldogs are deserving of the No. 2 national ranking, the highest in program history.
Said Boldt, “I thought we grew up a lot (this weekend). We got put through some tests, and I think we really stepped up. Our mentality stayed strong the whole time. Even when we were down a little bit in the Park match, I thought we were able to refocus and get back to playing our best. That was a big part of growing up today.”
The depth of Concordia’s roster has also come to bare in the early going. All-American Camryn Opfer missed Saturday's contests to attend a wedding. Opfer jumped to No. 4 on the program’s all-time kills list as part of Friday’s wins in North Sioux City over Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) and Mayville State University (N.D.). Scott stepped in and totaled 13 kills on Saturday.
An early season GPAC showdown with ninth-ranked Midland (5-4, 1-0 GPAC) is next on the docket. The two rivals will go head-to-head inside Friedrich Arena on Wednesday with first serve of the varsity match at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Warriors won two of last season’s three matchups. Concordia’s win came in the GPAC semifinals in Fremont.