SEWARD, Neb. – Four different conference teams garnered at least one first-place vote in the 2023 GPAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches’ Poll released on Wednesday (Aug. 9). The results of the poll are indicative of a competitive league with loaded with nationally prominent programs. Concordia University Volleyball pulled in three first-place votes and landed at No. 2 with 99 points in the conference poll. Defending NAIA national champion Jamestown secured five first-place votes and is the preseason favorite with 101 points.
Head Coach Ben Boldt led his squad to an overall record of 25-6 last season. The 2022 Bulldogs climbed as high as No. 4 in the NAIA coaches’ poll and went 12-4 in conference play, placing third in the GPAC regular season. The ’22 squad went on to reach the GPAC tournament championship match and advanced to the final site of the NAIA National Championship.
Expectations are understandably high. Said Boldt following the spring practice season, “Our motto for this year that we established at the beginning of the spring is ‘level up.’ That’s a mentality that we’re embracing. We’re a team that’s been knocking on the door with two consecutive conference finals appearances and we’ve been to two elite eights and two sweet 16s. We’re knocking on the door and now we want to bust it down. What can we do to level up? That’s the mentality of our team.”
Concordia returns each of its six All-GPAC honorees from last fall: first teamers Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer, second teamers Bree Burtwistle and Carly Rodaway and honorable mention choices Rebecca Gebhardt and Ashley Keck (GPAC Freshman of the Year). Opfer and Burtwistle will be entering their fifth seasons of college volleyball. Over her first four seasons as a Bulldog, Opfer has accumulated 1,341 digs and 1,268 kills.
The 2023 season opener is coming up on Aug. 19 when Concordia will host McPherson College (Kan.) at 3 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs will likely appear as a highly ranked team on the national scale when the NAIA preseason poll is unveiled on Aug. 16.
2023 GPAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches’ Poll
(1st place votes)
1. Jamestown – 101 (5)
2. Concordia – 99 (3)
3. Northwestern – 95 (3)
4. Midland – 88 (1)
5. Dakota Wesleyan – 70
6. College of Saint Mary – 67
7. Hastings – 58
8. Dordt – 48
9. Morningside – 36
10. Doane – 25
11. Mount Marty – 21
12. Briar Cliff – 18