SEWARD, Neb. – The postseason is nearing, but the sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team must first focus on this week’s challenges. The Bulldogs will host Mount Marty on Wednesday and then make the short drive to Hastings on Saturday. Both foes are sides that Concordia has beaten already this season. On the line will be GPAC standings positioning. The Bulldogs are still mathematically alive for a GPAC regular season title as they enter this week at 10-3 in league play (19-3 overall). Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad is currently tied for third place in the GPAC.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 26 vs. Mount Marty (6-17, 1-12 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
*Pink out in support of breast cancer awareness
Saturday, Oct. 29 at Hastings (18-10, 7-6 GPAC), 1 p.m.
--Live Webcast | | Live Stats | Location: Lynn Farrell Arena (Hastings, Neb.)
By the numbers
· Reaching 10 conference wins is a significant accomplishment within the GPAC, the NAIA’s best volleyball league. The Bulldog program has now attained the feat three of the past four seasons with GPAC marks of 11-5 in 2019, 12-3 in 2020, 9-7 in 2021 and 10-3 in 2022. Though the ’21 team just missed double-digit GPAC wins, it went on to advance to the GPAC tournament championship match. The school record for conference wins in a single season remains 12, a total achieved by both the 2015 and 2020 teams. The current squad would break that record if it wins the remainder of its regular season matches.
· In Ben Boldt’s mind, the two statistics most telling of a team’s dominance are hitting percentage and blocks. With last week’s strong performances on the attack, the Bulldogs remain at No. 2 nationally in hitting percentage (.276) behind only Marian University (Ind.). As for its blocking, Concordia ranks 94th nationally with an average of 1.76 blocks per set. The hitting percentage is especially impressive when considering that the Bulldogs have played a schedule that Massey Ratings judges to be the fourth most challenging in the NAIA.
· In last week’s action, Concordia earned season sweeps of both Doane and No. 13 College of Saint Mary. The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers at home, 25-12, 25-13, 25-17, and then took care of the Flames on the road, 25-18, 25-18, 25-13. Over the two wins, Concordia hit a combined .348 with an average of 16.67 kills per set. Five Bulldogs notched at least 12 kills for the week: Ashley Keck (21), Camryn Opfer (21), Carly Rodaway (20), Gabi Nordaker (18) and Morgan Nibbe (12). Concordia put together one of its best blocking performances of the season in the win at CSM as it led that category, 10-3. Nibbe started both matches last week in the absence of Kalee Wiltfong.
· With a combined 76 assists last week, Bree Burstwistle bumped up to No. 3 on the NAIA national leaderboard for assists per set at 11.20. Burtwistle is one of a group of Bulldogs who seem likely to garner all-conference mention and perhaps even All-America consideration. Teammate Gabi Nordaker ranks eighth nationally in hitting percentage (.356). The team’s most well-rounded player, Camryn Opfer has run her career totals to 1,162 kills, 1,200 digs, 154 blocks and 58 aces in 109 matches. The next highest career kill totals on the team belong to Nordaker (801) and Wiltfong (730).
· A new national poll is set to be released on Wednesday. In the five NAIA coaches’ polls released so far in 2022, Concordia has landed respective rankings of 11th, 10th, eighth, sixth and sixth. The No. 6 spot remains the high-water mark in the history of the program. The Bulldogs are looking to make it four years in a row with top 25 national finishes. Under Boldt, the Bulldogs garnered final postseason national rankings of 14th in 2019, eighth in 2020 and sixth in 2021.
The opponents
Mount Marty enters the week with a 13-match losing streak that followed its straight sets win over York College on Sept. 13. The Lancers came close to a victory at Briar Cliff on Oct. 8 in what amounted to a five-set defeat. Head Coach Belen Albertos’ squad has been eliminated from GPAC tournament contention but has shown signs of improvement this fall. In 23 matches this season, the Lancers are hitting .127 with an average of 11.38 kills per set. Their opponents are hitting .189 with 12.11 kills per set. The team’s most prolific attack has been Jadie DeLange with 209 kills. Concordia defeated Mount Marty in Yankton, 25-23, 25-13, 25-16, on Sept. 21.
Hastings will host Doane on Wednesday before welcoming the Bulldogs to town on Saturday. The Broncos will be in search of a quality win that can help bolster their national tournament resume. Hastings owns wins this season over two teams ranked in the current NAIA top 10: No. 5 Midland and No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan. Through 28 matches this season, Hastings is hitting .216 with an average of 12.79 kills per set compared to figures of .172 and 11.90 for its opponents. Head Coach Alex Allard is in her fourth season leading the program. Concordia defeated the Broncos in Seward, 25-20, 25-20, 25-12, on Aug. 31.
Next week
The regular season will come to a close on Tuesday, Nov. 1 when the Bulldogs will welcome No. 5 Midland to Friedrich Arena.