SEWARD, Neb. – Following a weekend bye, the 10th-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team should be well-rested going into matchups at Doane and then at home versus No. 16 College of Saint Mary. The Bulldogs are coming off a five-set loss at No. 2 Midland in their most recent outing. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad stands at 10-1 overall (1-1 GPAC) as conference play intensifies. The match on Saturday will come as part of homecoming weekend on campus.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Doane (4-10, 0-3 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. No. 16 College of Saint Mary (12-0, 2-0 GPAC), 4 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast/Stats
By the numbers
· Concordia should remain inside the NAIA top 10 when a new national poll gets released on Wednesday. Based on the NAIA poll from Aug. 31, the Bulldogs own three wins over top 25 foes: No. 9 Viterbo University (Wis.), No. 21 Texas Wesleyan University and No. 22 Southern Oregon University. The power of the GPAC should also be displayed in the national poll once again. Entering the week, there are four GPAC squads that have either no losses or one loss: College of Saint Mary (12-0), Jamestown (13-1), Midland (12-1) and Concordia (10-1).
· The match last week at the Wikert Event Center in Fremont had the feel of a national tournament clash. The disappointment for the Bulldogs comes from having let a 12-9 lead in the fifth set slip away. Concordia also led 14-13 with a chance at match point. Midland squeaked it out despite the Bulldogs holding statistical advantages in hitting percentage, .232 to .186, blocks, 13-7, and digs, 74-60. However, Concordia did not have its best night from the service line with one ace compared to nine errors. A Warrior service ace brought the match to a conclusion. The statistical leaders for the Bulldogs in the match at Midland were Gabi Nordaker in kills (16) and blocks (nine), Camryn Opfer in kills (16) and digs (18), Bree Burtwistle in assists (53) and Lexie Kreizel in aces (one).
· A transfer from Midland, Burtwistle deserves plenty of credit for the way the Concordia attack has continued to hum after it lost five-year starting setter Tara Callahan. Among NAIA setters, Burtwistle ranks sixth in assists per set (10.78) and 15th in assists (431). On the team national leaderboard, the Bulldogs rank fifth in hitting percentage (.265) and 13th in kills per set (13.57). Overall in her career (three seasons at Concordia and one at Midland), Burtwistle has accumulated 1,291 assists. She shared time at setter in 2019 with Midland All-American Hope Leimbach.
· The Bulldogs roll out a bevvy of dangerous attackers. Five Concordia hitters boast more than 70 kills on the season: Nordaker (126), Opfer (112), Rodaway (106), Ashley Keck (95) and Kalee Wiltfong (72). With another strong performance last week, Opfer pushed her career totals to 1,078 digs, 1,060 kills, 141 blocks and 52 aces in 98 matches as a Bulldog. The Millard West High School product Nordaker has padded career totals that now show 691 kills and 261 blocks in 65 college matches.
· Entering the week, Ben Boldt’s five-year coaching record at Concordia stands at 87-38 (.696). According to available records, Boldt’s 87 wins rank fifth most among head volleyball coaches in program history, following Vicki Boye (167-136), Rachel Miller (107-125), Scott Mattera (97-94) and Diane Mendenhall (89-54). Under Boldt’s direction, the program has achieved its highest ever NAIA national ranking (sixth) and has led the Bulldogs to the final site of the national tournament three times.
The opponents
Doane received votes in the NAIA preseason poll after going 19-14 overall last season. The Tigers have fallen off the national radar while going 4-10 (0-3 GPAC) so far in 2022. The conference losses have come at the hands of No. 2 Midland (four sets), Mount Marty (four sets) and No. 16 College of Saint Mary (three sets). Head Coach Jenna Jones is in her third season at the helm of the program, which last reached the national tournament in 2016. Through 14 matches, Doane is hitting .183 while its opponents are hitting .195.
College of Saint Mary has started 12-0 with GPAC wins over Hastings and Doane. Now in his sixth season as head coach of the Flames, Rick Pruett has helped make the program a big winner. CSM features the reigning GPAC Libero of the Year Rachel Cushing and a balanced attack to rival what Concordia brings to the table. Five Flames hitters have at least 89 kills this season: Makenna Freeman (118), Lexie Langley (116), Grace Werner (105), Karmyn Willman (101) and Rachel Rosenquist (89). CSM is hitting .249 as a team while its opponents are hitting .108.
Next week
Two more GPAC matches are on next week’s slate as the Bulldogs will be at Mount Marty on Sept. 21 before heading to No. 23 Dordt on Sept. 24.