SEWARD, Neb. – After a weekend off, the No. 2 Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team will ramp things back up this week with a pair of GPAC clashes versus in-state rivals. In their most recent outing, the Bulldogs cruised past College of Saint Mary in straight sets. That result leaves Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad at 9-1 overall (2-0 GPAC) heading into a Wednesday night showdown with 17th-ranked Midland. Then on Saturday, Concordia will take to the blacktop at the Haddix Center for an early evening tilt with Doane.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 17 vs. No. 17 Midland (7-5, 2-0 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Sept. 20 at Doane (8-6, 1-1 GPAC), 5 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Haddix Center (Crete, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The first NAIA coaches’ poll of the 2025 regular season placed Concordia at No. 2 behind only top-ranked Eastern Oregon University. The rest of the current top five includes No. 3 Bellevue University, No. 4 Corban University (Ore.) and No. 5 University of Providence (Mont.). Based on the latest poll, the Bulldogs own two wins over top 25 foes: No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan University and No. 12 Viterbo University (Wis.). The No. 2 ranking equals the highest position Concordia reached during the 2024 season. Back in 2023, Concordia was tagged with the No. 1 ranking in two separate NAIA polls. Dating back to 2023, the Bulldogs have been included within the top five of 19 consecutive national coaches’ polls. The second NAIA poll of the 2025 regular season is scheduled to be unveiled on Wednesday. Concordia will have a chance to add to its résumé on Wednesday against No. 17 Midland.
· From a statistical perspective, the Bulldogs put together one of their finest matches so far this season in last week’s win over College of Saint Mary. Concordia stamped out the Flames, 25-8, 25-13, 25-18, while outhitting them, .309 to -.016. The individual statistical leaders for the Bulldogs were Ashley Keck in kills (12), Ella Brueggemann in assists (18) and aces (two; tied with Shandy Faalii), Emma Brueggemann in digs (23) and Ava Greene in blocks (six). In the middle, Molli Martin continued her impressive play as she hit .625 with five kills. In addition to an advantage in hitting percentage, Concordia owned all other key statistics: kills (44-20), blocks (7-2), aces (5-2) and digs (73-52). The Bulldogs have won each of the past three meetings with CSM, which slipped to 0-2 in GPAC play after the match.
· Returning NAIA First Team All-American Ashley Keck continues to pace all GPAC players in kills per set at 4.26 (ninth best among all NAIA attackers). Last week, the Kearney Catholic High School alum appeared in her 100th career match at Concordia. Keck has moved to No. 9 on the program’s all-time kills list with 1,111 for her career. She has also totaled 898 digs and 90 blocks as a Bulldog. Since Keck arrived at Concordia, the program has produced a four-year record of 86-15 with a GPAC regular season title in 2023 and an NAIA national quarterfinal appearance in 2024. Keck and her fellow seniors are on track to help the program reach the national tournament for a seventh straight year.
· In recent years, the Bulldogs have often overwhelmed opponents with powerful offensive play at the net. The 2025 squad is making defense its calling card. After stifling CSM last week, the opponent hitting percentage for the season stands at .081. Next best in the GPAC in that statistic is Northwestern, whose opponents are hitting .093. On the NAIA national statistical leaderboard, Concordia ranks sixth in blocks per set (2.63) and 14th in digs per set (18.23). Both Molli Martin (1.36) and Ava Greene (1.26) are averaging more than a block per set individually.
· At setter, the Bulldogs have considerable depth with three players earning time in the rotation: Ella Brueggemann, Lily Psencik and Savannah Shelburne. All three chipped in with at least nine assists in the win over CSM. On the season, Psencik leads the way with 172 assists (6.37 per set). Collectively, they help steer an attack that is hitting .219 and averaging 13.46 kills per set.
· Among GPAC teams, Concordia ranks first in kills per set (13.46), second in digs per set (18.23), second in hitting percentage (.219) and third in blocks per set (2.63). The Bulldogs have achieved those markers while playing the NAIA’s 20th most challenging schedule, according to Massey Ratings, to this point.
· Concordia is embarking upon a GPAC grind that it hopes will end with a championship. Counting last week’s win over the Flames, the Bulldogs have gone a combined 31-3 in GPAC regular season matches since the beginning of the 2023 season. The ’23 Concordia team shared the GPAC regular season title. In each of the past four years, the Bulldogs have reached the GPAC tournament championship match. In program history, Concordia has won two GPAC regular season titles (2000 and 2023) and has been the GPAC tournament runner up five times.
The opponents
Like Concordia, Midland had this past weekend off. It’s a new era for Warrior volleyball with highly successful coach Paul Giesselmann having announced his retirement following the 2024 season. In his place stepped Micah Rhodes, who had been an assistant under Giesselmann for the previous two seasons. Rhodes is tasked with continuing a strong tradition. Midland has qualified for the national tournament in 11 of the past 12 seasons with a national runner-up claim coming in 2020. The Warriors have begun this season at 7-5 (2-0 GPAC) with conference wins over College of Saint Mary and Mount Marty (both in five sets). Midland returns 2024 GPAC Freshman of the Year Brooklynn Snider at outside hitter. However, the Warriors graduated First Team All-GPAC middle blocker Abbey Ringler. Snyder tops Midland with 172 kills (3.44/set) and is followed by Abree Plueger (160 kills) in that category. Midland is hitting .198 as a team with an average of 12.62 kills per set. The Bulldogs took all three meetings from the Warriors last season.
As for Doane, RanDee Ochinero is in her second season as head coach. The Tigers finished 2024 at 9-20 (4-12 GPAC) and enter this week at 8-6 (1-1 GPAC) so far in 2025. Doane returns Honorable Mention All-GPAC setter Camdyn Carpenter (9.0 assists/set in 2025). The Tigers picked up their first league win this past weekend as they defeated Mount Marty in four sets. Before hosting Concordia on Saturday, Doane will play at College of Saint Mary on Wednesday and at Peru State College on Friday. Ochinero’s squad is hitting .134 with an average of 11.42 kills per set, compared to .168 and 11.81 for its opponents. The Tigers’ most recent trip to the national tournament came in 2016. Concordia has won each of the past six and 13 of the last 14 meetings in the series with Doane.
Next week
The string of in-state rivalries will continue next week with the Bulldogs set to host Hastings on Sept. 24. Concordia will also be at home on Sept. 27 when Dordt makes a visit to Seward. That date will be senior day for the Bulldogs.