2024 Volleyball Schedule/Results
27-4 Overall | 15-1 GPAC (2nd) | Season Stats | Roster
Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Record |
Bulldog Bash (Aug. 16-17) | ||||
Aug. 16 | Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 1-0 |
Aug. 17 | Oklahoma City University | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 2-0 |
Columbia Power Quad (Aug. 23-24) | ||||
Aug. 23 | (7) Columbia College (Mo.) | Columbia, Mo. | W, 3-2 | 3-0 |
Aug. 24 | (1) Indiana Wesleyan University | Columbia, Mo. | W, 3-2 | 4-0 |
Aug. 24 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | Columbia, Mo. | W, 3-0 | 5-0 |
CSM Labor Day Classic (Aug. 30-31) | ||||
Aug. 30 | (14) Bellevue University | Omaha, Neb. | L, 0-3 | 5-1 |
Aug. 31 | (5) Viterbo University (Wis.) | Omaha, Neb. | W, 3-1 | 6-1 |
Aug. 31 | Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Omaha, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 7-1 |
Sept. 4 | *Mount Marty University | Yankton, S.D. | W, 3-1 | 8-1, 1-0 |
Sept. 11 | *College of Saint Mary | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-1 | 9-1, 2-0 |
Sept. 14 | *(20) Midland University (Parents Weekend) | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-1 | 10-1, 3-0 |
Sept. 21 | *Hastings College | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 11-1, 4-0 |
Sept. 25 | *Doane University | Crete, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 12-1, 5-0 |
Sept. 28 | *(1) Northwestern College (Homecoming) | Seward, Neb. | L, 2-3 | 12-2, 5-1 |
Oct. 4 | *Waldorf University | Forest City, Iowa | W, 3-0 | 13-2, 6-1 |
Oct. 5 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, S.D. | W, 3-1 | 14-2, 7-1 |
Oct. 11 | *Briar Cliff University | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 15-2, 8-1 |
Oct. 12 | *Morningside University (Senior Day) | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-1 | 16-2, 9-1 |
Oct. 16 | *College of Saint Mary | Omaha, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 17-2, 10-1 |
Oct. 19 | *Dordt University | Sioux Center, Iowa | W, 3-2 | 18-2, 11-1 |
Oct. 23 | *Mount Marty University | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-1 | 19-2, 12-1 |
Oct. 26 | *Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 20-2, 13-1 |
Oct. 30 | *Doane University | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 21-2, 14-1 |
Nov. 5 | *(22) Midland University | Fremont, Neb. | W, 3-1 | 22-2, 15-1 |
GPAC Tournament | ||||
Nov. 9 | Dakota Wesleyan University (GPAC Quarterfinals) | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 23-2 |
Nov. 13 | (20) Midland University (GPAC Semifinals) | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 24-2 |
Nov. 16 | (1) Northwestern College (GPAC Championship) | Orange City, Iowa | L, 2-3 | 24-3 |
NAIA National Tournament | ||||
Nov. 23 | Our Lady of the Lake University (NAIA Opening Round) | Seward, Neb. | W, 3-0 | 25-3 |
Dec. 4 | (21) The Master's University (Pool Play) | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 3-1 | 26-3 |
Dec. 6 | (13) Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Pool Play) | Sioux City, Iowa | W, 3-0 | 27-3 |
Dec. 7 | (5) Bellevue University (NAIA National Quarterfinals) | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 2-3 | 27-4 |
* - denotes GPAC match |
2024 Roster
No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
1 | Maddie Paulsen | MB | 6-0 | So. | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Sioux Falls Jefferson HS |
2 | Lauryn England | S | 5-8 | So. | Malcolm, Neb. | Malcolm HS |
3 | Danica Martin | MB | 5-11 | Fr. | Mayer, Minn | Mayer Lutheran HS |
4 | Sydney Jelinek | OH | 6-0 | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Norris HS |
5 | Tahlia Steinbeck | OH | 6-1 | So. | North Platte, Neb. | Hershey HS |
6 | Ashley Keck | OH | 5-11 | Jr. | Kearney, Neb. | Kearney Catholic HS |
7 | Cassidy Knust | DS | 5-3 | Sr. | Aurora, Neb. | Aurora HS |
8 | Addie Kirkegaard | RS | 6-2 | Jr. | Hastings, Neb. | Hastings St. Cecilia HS |
9 | Kate Griess | DS | 5-6 | Jr. | Sutton, Neb. | Sutton HS |
10 | Sophie Wohlgemuth | OH | 5-10 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
11 | Gabi Nordaker | MB | 5-10 | Sr. | Omaha, Neb. | Millard West HS |
12 | Macy McClain | DS | 5-6 | Sr. | Tempe, Ariz. | Valley Christian HS |
13 | Kya Scott | OH | 5-7 | Jr. | Broken Bow, Neb. | Broken Bow HS |
14 | Clara Evert | DS | 5-6 | Fr. | Gothenburg, Neb. | Gothenburg HS |
15 | Rebecca Gebhardt | DS | 5-8 | Sr. | Norfolk, Neb. | Lutheran HS Northeast |
16 | Ella Waters | OH | 6-3 | So. | Hickman, Neb. | Norris HS / Washburn University |
17 | Ava Greene | MB | 5-11 | So. | Papillion, Neb. | Papillion LaVista South HS |
18 | Shandy Faalii | DS | 5-8 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln East HS |
19 | Lanie Brott | OH | 5-11 | So. | Lincoln, Neb. | Pius X HS |
20 | Mandy Mettscher | S | 5-10 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln East HS |
21 | Ashlyn Wischmeier | DS | 5-9 | Sr. | Kearney, Neb. | Kearney Catholic HS |
22 | Kadyn Sisco | MB | 5-10 | Fr. | Syracuse, Neb. | Syracuse HS |
23 | Molli Martin | MB | 5-11 | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
25 | Autumn Deterding | MB | 5-11 | Jr. | Cambridge, Neb. | Cambridge HS |
26 | Taylor Helms | RS | 5-11 | Fr. | Columbus, Neb. | Columbus Lakeview HS |
27 | Kelsi Heard | S | 5-10 | Sr. | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Sioux Falls Christian HS |
29 | Paige Melohn | OH | 5-10 | So. | Pocohontas, Iowa | Pocohantas Area HS |
31 | Jaylen Hansen | DS | 5-4 | Fr. | Grand Island, Neb. | Grand Island HS |
32 | Lily Psencik | S | 5-6 | Jr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
34 | Savannah Shelburne | S | 5-7 | Jr. | Omaha, Neb. | Gretna HS |
STAFF
Ben Boldt, Head Coach
Angie Boldt, Assistant Coach
Corina Beimers, Graduate Assistant Coach
Delaney Novy, Manager
Season Preview: 2024 Concordia Volleyball
August 14, 2024
Head Coach: Ben Boldt (127-47, 7th season)
2023 Record: 25-4 overall, 14-2 GPAC (T-1st); NAIA national qualifier
Key Returners: DS Becca Gebhardt; OH Ashley Keck; DS Cassidy Knust; MB Gabi Nordaker; MB Maddie Paulsen.
Key Losses: S Bree Burtwistle; DS Lexie Kreizel; OH Camryn Opfer; RS Carly Rodaway.
2023 NAIA All-Americans: Bree Burtwistle (First Team); Camryn Opfer (Second Team); Gabi Nordaker (Third Team).
2023 GPAC All-Conference: Bree Burtwistle (First Team; Setter of the Year); Gabi Nordaker (First Team); Camryn Opfer (First Team); Ashley Keck (Second Team); Carly Rodaway (Second Team); Rebecca Gebhardt (Honorable Mention); Cassidy Knust (Honorable Mention).
Outlook
As Head Coach Ben Boldt has been saying, “We’re going to look different.” Gone are All-Americans in setter Bree Burtwistle and outside hitter Camryn Opfer, in addition to two-time All-GPAC right side Carly Rodaway. On the plus side, a solid foundation remains in place for a program that has elevated itself into a stratosphere reserved for the elites of the NAIA volleyball world. Five-straight trips to the final site of the NAIA National Championships has created a level of expectation that is embraced inside the Concordia huddle.
The 2023 Bulldogs checked a box by sharing the GPAC regular season title and achieving a goal that Ben and Angie Boldt had implemented since arriving prior to the 2018 season. Perhaps that attainment will serve as the springboard to something more in 2024.
“Every team is built off the shoulders of the teams that have come before us,” Ben Boldt said. “I feel like we share in that with all of the people we’ve had in our program. It was really awesome for that team to accomplish that goal. You could tell the joy they had once they accomplished it. That moment is kind of a fleeting moment and then it’s like, what’s next? You’re left with the work that’s put into it and the relationships created along the way. It’s really awesome to see them accomplish that goal. We can’t get enough of that feeling.”
When January 2024 arrived, the Bulldogs turned the page and reset the team’s motto. Concordia is rallying around the mantra of “grit” while attempting to take on the “mamba mentality” that fueled former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, one of the all-time greats in his sport. From a personnel standpoint, the Boldts welcome back four All-GPAC players: middle blocker Gabi Nordaker, outside hitter Ashley Keck and defensive specialists Becca Gebhardt and Cassidy Knust. In the case of Nordaker, she made the decision to use her ‘COVID exemption’ and return for a fifth year.
When Ben Boldt says things will be different this fall, he’s referring, at least in part, to how things will look on the court. With GPAC Setter of the Year Bree Burtwistle having exhausted her collegiate eligibility, the Bulldogs have been working on a two-setter system this preseason. The varsity roster features four setters: Savannah Shelburne, Kelsi Heard, Lily Psencik and Lauryn England. Shelburne saw a small amount of varsity action in 2023. Boldt has been pleased with the development of the group since the team reported to campus on Aug. 6.
“We have our setters running with our attackers throughout the entire training process,” Ben Boldt said. “There is total trust there in finding people. There are going to be little connections that happen between setters and hitters. They may not have game experience, but they have high level training together. With the reps everyone has gotten together, it’s a fairly seamless process.”
No different than previous years, Concordia will challenge its opponents with an array of dangerous attackers. Most accomplished among them is Nordaker, a two-time NAIA All-American who has produced 1,160 kills and 458 blocks in her collegiate career. At outside hitter, Keck should see her fair share of attacking opportunities and is a rising star. Keck also possesses the skillset to play in the back row. Other pin hitters with experience include Addie Kirkegaard, Kya Scott and Ella Waters. The 6-foot-3 Waters redshirted in 2023 after transferring from Washburn University and is prepared to make an impact. In the middle, sophomore Maddie Paulsen is on her way back after suffering an injury in the GPAC Championship match.
The Bulldogs hit .257 in 2023 and plan on continuing to perform powerfully and efficiently at the net. Hitting percentages that rank near the top of the country have become a hallmark of recent Concordia teams.
Said Nordaker, “I think we have amazing attackers. We know when to kill the ball when it’s good and manage it when it’s bad. If we find a spot on the court that’s working, we home in on it. That’s something Ben and Angie have taught us to focus on. When you go up there, there’s strategy to it. We have worked very hard on in-system and out-of-system and managing everything. I think that’s where our efficiency comes from. It’s something we work very intentionally on in practice.”
In the back row, senior Becca Gebhardt is a three-year starting libero who went past 1,000 career digs last season. Gebhardt is the backbone of a senior class that includes Heard, Knust and Ashlyn Wischmeier. Nordaker has raved about the leadership of the senior class. Meanwhile, one freshman to watch in the back is Lincoln East High School graduate Shandy Fa’ali’i.
The pieces will have to come together quickly as the Bulldogs get their season started in the middle of August while faced with a challenging nonconference slate. Based on the program’s recent achievements, Concordia landed at No. 4 in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll released on Aug. 14. The lofty preseason ranking means little to the Bulldogs at this juncture. It would be out of character for Concordia to focus on anything other than what is right in front of it. It’s time to be gritty.
“We choose that motto right at the beginning of the year,” Ben Boldt said. “We normally choose that based on what we felt like last season ended with. There’s going to be a moment at the end of the season where you have a tough opponent across the net. It’s going to come down to overcoming that obstacle and having perseverance through that obstacle. We want to prepare for that moment. Grit is about training and persevering for long periods of time. To be able to train with that mentality all the way through is going to prepare you for that moment. That’s the idea. Our players have been really gritty. They’ve overcome a lot. We’re looking forward to getting out and showing it.”
The month of August will provide a litmus test for where the 2024 Bulldogs stand. Coming up quickly, Concordia will take on four highly rated nonconference foes: No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 5 Viterbo (Wis.), No. 7 Columbia (Mo.) and No. 14 Bellevue. Those outings combined with the rigors of the 16-match GPAC schedule will have the Bulldogs prepared for the national tournament come November and December.
As for Nordaker, she’s refusing to think that far ahead. She’s all about what the Boldts have preached her entire career: the process. Said Nordaker, “The biggest thing is that we focus on the here and now. We’re not focused on the end result – it’s what we can control in the moment. We also like to think of having a ‘red card mentality’ and fighting for what we want. We’ve gotten so close the past couple of years. We just want it so bad this year. I think having that fight in the moment is going to help us succeed this year.”
Concordia will open the 2024 season this Friday-Saturday (Aug. 16-17) by hosting the Bulldog Bash. As part of the event, the Bulldogs will take on Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) and Oklahoma City University. The complete schedule can be found HERE.
New-look Dawgs debut with sweep of Lewis-Clark State
August 16, 2024
Head Coach Ben Boldt and company knew the 2024 edition of Concordia University Volleyball would look different from the 2023 squad, but that’s not to say this particular season opener was any less anticipated. The fourth-ranked Bulldogs debuted a new two-setter system and got some big swings from junior Ashley Keck while rolling past visiting Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho), 25-18, 25-16, 25-18, on Friday (Aug. 16). Concordia and a back row led by Becca Gebhardt managed to limit the Warriors to a .000 hitting percentage.
The Bulldogs said goodbye to a couple of All-Americans from the 2023 team, but the beat goes on. Concordia rings in a new year with the usual high expectations. Ten days after reporting to campus, the Bulldogs passed an early test.
“It felt like it was quick. We reported on August 6 and we played August 16,” Boldt said. "It’s always a quick thing, but at the same time, I think we were ready to play somebody else. It was fun to get out there for sure. I thought we took them out of what they wanted to do from our serving standpoint. There were a lot of times when they were out of system and couldn’t get in a rhythm. That was something that I liked, and something that we’re emphasizing with our team.”
One night after LCS rallied to win at No. 17 College of Saint Mary in five sets, it looked a bit out of sorts. The Warriors had just as many kills as errors (20-20) while struggling to find unattended hardwood. Concordia cleaned things up with balance in the back as four players registered six or more digs: Keck (eight), Savannah Shelburne (eight), Becca Gebhardt (six) and Cassidy Knust (six). The largest kill total for a Warrior was just six by Juliauna Forgach Aguilar.
A junior out of Omaha, Shelburne started at setter for the Bulldogs and showed she was ready for primetime. She tallied 20 assists and an ace. The other part of the setter equation is Lily Psencik, who notched 16 assists and four digs in her most extended varsity action. The duo helped quarterback Concordia to 43 kills and a .298 team hitting percentage.
Said Boldt, “The benefit of running the 6-2 system is that you always have three attackers to choose from. We’re trying to be as balanced as we can and not lean on any one person too much. You could see it was pretty spread out. Our outsides were getting the majority of the sets. That’s kind of the nature of the beast, but we want to be balanced for sure.”
The rising star Keck bombed away with 12 kills and .500 hitting percentage from the outside. Meanwhile, two-time All-American Gabi Nordaker and transfer Ella Waters added nine kills apiece. This was the Bulldog debut for Waters, who is expected to get some run on both pins. On the right side, Addie Kirkegaard chipped in with five kills while Molli Martin and Kya Scott posted four kills each. In her opening act, freshman Shandy Fa’ali’i landed back-to-back aces while serving for the first time on the collegiate level. She finished with a match high three aces.
Lewis-Clark State (1-1) owned the edge in blocks, 5-2. That’s an area Boldt will be looking at for improvement heading into Saturday.
“From where it is and where it can be, I think we still need to get better,” Boldt said. “It’s a good point to learn from and to start from … We need to get better at blocking. That’s the initial focal point of what our defense is. When we get good touches on the block, that’s really frustrating to the other team.”
The Bulldog Bash will resume at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday as the first of three matches gets underway from Friedrich Arena. Concordia will wrap up the event by taking on Oklahoma City University at 3 p.m. CT. The Stars were defeated in straight sets by Hastings on Friday. OCU will also go up against CSM on day two of the Bulldog Bash.
Saturday Bulldog Bash Schedule
10 a.m. – College of Saint Mary vs. Oklahoma City University
12:30 p.m. – Hastings College vs. Lewis-Clark State College
3 p.m. – Concordia vs. Oklahoma City University
Dominant weekend complete with rout of Oklahoma City
August 17, 2024
As the dust settled on a weekend of action at the Bulldog Bash, the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team celebrated a second home victory over a nonconference foe in two days. The Bulldogs used a .301 hitting percentage to turn away Oklahoma City University, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20, on Saturday (Aug. 17) afternoon. Both Ella Waters and Ashley Keck reached double figures in kills and Concordia showed improvement in its blocking compared to the previous day.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad also defeated Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) in straight sets on Friday.
“I thought we played cleaner than we did yesterday defensively,” Boldt said. “I thought our block setup was good and we had a lot better block touches today. I thought Ella had a good bounce-back in terms of attacking and being aggressive. We found a little bit of a rhythm with Addie Kirkegaard and Lily Psencik. She (Addie) started really ripping the ball.”
In an overall sharper performance, the Bulldogs never felt seriously threatened down the stretch of any set on Saturday. Concordia raced out to leads of 17-8 in the first set, 22-15 in the second and 17-8 in the third. The Stars did manage to put together a late 7-1 run in the final set before Kirkegaard snuffed out any chance for a comeback with a match-point kill. The result left Oklahoma City at 0-3 on its Seward road trip.
A day after mustering only two blocks, Concordia ramped its tally up to eight in the latest victory. Waters and Molli Martin both contributed to four blocks as the ringleaders in that category. Their play at the net helped limit the Stars to 30 kills and an .092 hitting percentage for the afternoon. As part of the defensive effort, libero Becca Gebhardt posted a match high 16 digs.
Savannah Shelburne started at setter for the second-straight day and came away with 21 assists and 10 digs. Psencik added 15 assists while working in tandem with Shelburne. They helped facilitate the 11 kills totaled by Waters (.308) and the 10 kills put away by Keck (.400). Meanwhile, Martin and Kya Scott supplied seven kills apiece and Kirkegaard notched five kills. Ashlyn Wischmeier dropped in two aces.
The Kearney, Neb., native Keck hit a cool .450 (22 kills) from the outside for the weekend. Said Keck, “It’s really fun. It’s nice to have the two-setter connection because we can really run a wide offense and get swings out of everyone. We’re all going through a transition with how our team looks, but I think the connections we’ve built has really gotten us far and allowed us to be successful together.”
OCU was defeated by two other GPAC squads inside Friedrich Arena, Hastings and College of Saint Mary. The Stars got a team high eight kills apiece from Grace Smallwood and Rylee Steward while up against the Bulldogs. Steward was also credited with four block assists.
It will be no easy task for any foe attempting to knock off Concordia in its home gym. The weekend indicated that the Bulldogs have the potential to put together another special season.
Said Boldt, “We’re very lucky to be able to coach this group. They listen, they care for each other and they’re talented. Our motto this year is ‘grit.’ There’s going to be adversity that comes. Grit comes from overcoming that stuff. We’re going to face those moments this year. We had a run against us at the end there. We ask them to be gritty in those moments, and they responded well.”
The nonconference slate will resume next weekend (Aug. 23-24) when the Bulldogs will take part in the Columbia College Power Quad. The opponents in Columbia, Mo., will be No. 7 Columbia, No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University and MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.), in that order. Frank Greene will be live from Columbia to call the action for 104.9 Max Country.
Off 2-0 home weekend, Bulldogs prepping for trip to Columbia
August 19, 2024
Just 10 days after beginning preseason training, the Concordia University Volleyball team rang in the 2024 season while hosting the annual Bulldog Bash. The Bulldogs passed their first tests in wiping out Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) and Oklahoma City University in straight sets. Head Coach Ben Boldt is in his seventh season leading a program that has made five-straight trips to the final site of the NAIA National Championships. Concordia (25-4 overall in 2023) has the look of another powerful attacking team. It hit .300 while averaging 15.0 kills per set during the Bulldog Bash.
This Week – Columbia College Power Quad
Friday, Aug. 23 at No. 7 Columbia (0-0), 6 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Arena of Southwell Complex (Columbia, Mo.)
Saturday, Aug. 24 vs. No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan (2-1), 10 a.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Arena of Southwell Complex (Columbia, Mo.)
Saturday, Aug. 24 vs. MidAmerica Nazarene (0-0), 3 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Arena of Southwell Complex (Columbia, Mo.)
By the numbers
· Coaches Ben and Angie Boldt have guided the Bulldogs to their most successful stretch in program history. Over the past five years, Concordia has gone a combined 112-35 with five appearances at the final site (Sioux City, Iowa) of the NAIA National Championships. The 2020 and 2021 squads both reached the NAIA national quarterfinals (deepest national tournament advancement in school history). The 2023 squad climbed all the way to No. 1 in the NAIA coaches’ poll and shared the GPAC regular season title with Northwestern and Jamestown. At 25-4 overall, the ’23 team set a new program standard for highest winning percentage (.862) in program history. The 2023 season concluded with a defeat in national tournament pool play in a match that came with a spot in the national quarterfinals on the line.
· The Bulldogs checked in at No. 4 in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll released on Aug. 14. That is the same ranking Concordia held heading into the 2023 national tournament. The program has appeared in the top 25 of each of the past 17 official NAIA polls, dating back to the tail end of the 2021 season. This marks the fifth season in a row that the Bulldogs have been ranked in the preseason. In previous preseasons, Concordia landed at No. 10 in 2020, at No. 7 in 2021, at No. 11 in 2022 and at No. 4 in 2023. The Boldts’ teams went on to earn final rankings of No. 14 in 2019, No. 8, in 2020, No. 6 in 2021 and No. 4 in 2022 and 2023. In this preseason’s GPAC coaches’ poll, the Bulldogs were pegged second behind Northwestern.
· Middle blocker Gabi Nordaker is in her fifth season as a Bulldog. A freshman back in 2020, Nordaker opted to use her COVID exemption and return in 2024. The two-time NAIA All-American out of Millard West High School has played in 116 collegiate matches and has piled up 1,176 kills and 462 blocks for her career. On the program’s all-time lists, Nordaker ranks third in blocks and eighth in kills. She is creeping up on Dracy Lindner (1,204) on the all-time kills list. Nordaker has been recognized with three First Team All-GPAC awards and one Second Team All-GPAC honor. The program also benefited from the COVID exemption in 2023 when All-Americans Bree Burtwistle and Camryn Opfer chose to play another year.
· Another headlining returner, Ashley Keck will take on a brighter spotlight as she becomes an upperclassman in 2024. The Kearney Catholic High School alum was named the 2022 GPAC Freshman of the Year and then garnered Second Team All-GPAC accolades in 2023. Keck enjoyed a fine weekend at the Bulldog Bash as she led the team with 22 kills and hit .450 from the outside. In 61 career collegiate matches, Keck has compiled 622 kills (3.0 per set) and 376 digs. Her career high for kills in a single match was 20 in the 2023 GPAC championship match at Northwestern.
· The team’s star attackers such as Keck and Nordaker are adjusting to a new system as Concordia breaks in new setters. Both Savannah Shelburne and Lily Psencik saw extensive action at setter this past weekend while stepping in for 2023 GPAC Setter of the Year Bree Burtwistle. Shelburne started in the wins over Lewis-Clark State and Oklahoma City and totaled a combined 41 assists and 18 digs. Meanwhile, Psencik totaled 31 assists and nine digs. The results were impressive from an attacking perspective as the Bulldogs hit .300 and averaged 15.0 kills per set in those home victories.
· Under the Boldts, Concordia has become accustomed to ranking highly when it comes to hitting percentage. The Bulldogs finished the 2023 season ranked sixth nationally in hitting percentage at .257 after having ranked No. 2 in the NAIA in that category (.255) in 2022. In addition to Keck and Nordaker, 6-foot-3 outside hitter Ella Waters (20 kills at the Bulldog Bash) will figure heavily into the mix. In the back row, Concordia has an experienced libero in Becca Gebhardt, who has totaled 1,236 digs and 1,202 service receptions over her college career.
The opponents
Before hosting this weekend’s event, Columbia will entertain Missouri Valley College and No. 13 Oklahoma Wesleyan University early in the week. The Cougars finished last season at 32-7 overall and advanced to the NAIA national quarterfinals. Like Concordia, Columbia graduated two All-Americans from last season’s team – setter Luisa Ferreira and outside hitter Ellie Rockers. However, Columbia welcomes back Honorable Mention All-American Allana Capella, a junior right side hitter. Head Coach Allison Jones-Olson is entering her sixth season leading the program. She owns a record of 136-39 with the Cougars.
Indiana Wesleyan enjoyed a dream 2023 season while going 38-0 and capturing the first NAIA national championship in program history. The Wildcats bring back two First Team All-Americans from that squad, outside hitter Eva Joldersma and setter Abbigail Porter. IWU is led by an incredibly accomplished head coach in Candace Moats, a Norris High School alum. Entering the week, Moats owned a 986-371 career head coaching record. She’s led the program to a combined 27 conference championships in 22 seasons with the Wildcats. Currently ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, IWU went 2-1 this past week at its own IWU Invitational. The Wildcats defeated No. 6 Midland and Wilberforce University (Ohio) in straight sets with a five-set loss to No. 16 Indiana University Kokomo sandwiched in between.
A frequent national qualifier, MidAmerica Nazarene is looking to bounce back after finishing 2023 at 15-13 overall. Head Coach Molly Karagyaurov enters her sixth season as head coach at her alma mater. Prior to playing in Columbia this weekend, the Pioneers will take on Avila University early in the week. MNU returns third team all-conference setter Katrina Davis. The Pioneers met the Bulldogs in Seward last season with the result being a Concordia win, 25-15, 25-16, 25-15. Last season, MNU hit .174 as a team while its opponents hit .163.
Next week
Concordia will take part in another weekend event as the CSM/United Sports Academy Labor Day Classic takes place Aug. 30-31 in Omaha. As part of the classic, the Bulldogs will take on No. 14 Bellevue University, No. 5 Viterbo University (Wis.) and Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Bulldogs stage dramatic rally, 'grit' out win at No. 7 Columbia
August 23, 2024
Trailing 13-9 in the fifth set and staring defeat in the face, the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team lived out its 2024 mantra: “grit.” The Bulldogs rallied all the way back on Friday (Aug. 23) and celebrated match point when All-American Gabi Nordaker’s attack landed in the back left corner. Concordia emerged from the home gym of one of the NAIA’s most storied volleyball programs with a heart-stopping victory, 22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 23-25, 17-15. Nordaker and company passed their first road test in edging No. 7 Columbia College.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad moved to 3-0 while beginning its stay at the Hampton Inn Power Quad Classic hosted by Columbia. This was a prolonged heavyweight battle that played out over two-and-a-half hours.
“How about that one, huh?” Boldt said in his postgame radio remarks. “We want to own being a gritty team. Part of that is believing that the next thing that happens is going to be good, even if the last thing that happened wasn’t. We had a look in our eye even when we were down that we weren’t going to let it go. We blocked really well today and forced them to do things they didn’t want to do. They were able to execute down the stretch in set four, but we stuck with it and played defense.”
It’s fair to say things looked bleak for the visitors when Allana Capella hammered a kill that put the Cougars within two points of victory. The ensuing 4-0 Bulldog run went like this: Addie Kirkegaard kill, Ashley Keck/Ella Waters block, Molli Martin kill and Keck kill. Moments later, a 15-15 stalemate swung in Concordia’s favor as Waters and Nordaker called game with back-to-back kills. Somehow, some way, the Bulldogs even overcame four fifth-set service errors.
The play of Nordaker and Keck in crunch time allowed Concordia to persevere. Five of Nordaker’s match high 10 blocks came during a dominant third set for the Bulldogs. Then in the fifth, Keck and Nordaker combined for nine kills (five for Keck and four for Nordaker) in clutch performances. Keck also combined on two blocks during the final set. The latter of the two made it a 14-13 Concordia advantage.
Said Boldt, ““Gabi had a great night blocking. When she has that mentality, she can do a lot of great stuff. She had it tonight. When she gets in that mode, it’s fun to coach that.”
There was plenty of credit to go around. Keck finished with a match high 16 kills to go along with 20 digs and four blocks. Nordaker posted 11 kills in conjunction with her 10 blocks and Kirkegaard emerged with a career high 12 kills. In addition, Waters supplied 10 kills and three blocks, Martin added nine kills and Kya Scott chipped in seven kills. In the back row, the dependable Becca Gebhardt led the way with 26 digs. Setters Lily Psencik (30 assists) and Savannah Shelburne (25 assists) combined for 55 assists in leading to 65 team kills. Three aces apiece were tallied by Psencik, Shelburne and Ashlyn Wischmeier.
Top 10 road wins rarely come easy, but the Bulldogs won’t be patting themselves on the back for long. Said Boldt, “We can’t celebrate for long. We have to enjoy this while we’re here in the gym and then we have to get our minds right for the next opponent.”
Columbia (1-2) got a team high 13 kills from Alayna Rooks. The Cougars displayed balance of their own as six players notched at least seven kills. From a team perspective, Concordia owned advantages in hitting percentage, .216 to .173, blocks, 13-5, aces 11-5, and digs, 85-75. An NAIA national quarterfinalist in 2023, Columbia managed fewer errors on the attack (25-27) and in service (7-13).
The Bulldogs will return to action at the weekend classic for two matches in Columbia on Saturday. Concordia will take on defending national champion Indiana Wesleyan University at 10 a.m. before then going head-to-head with MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) at 3 p.m. Both matches will be carried live by 104.9 Max Country with Frank Greene on the call.
Takedown of No. 1 highlights day two in The Show-Me State
August 24, 2024
It was a statement weekend for the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team. One day after a frantic fifth-set rally that sunk No. 7 Columbia College (Mo.) on its home floor, the Bulldogs upended top-ranked defending national champion Indiana Wesleyan University in another five-set pulse pounder. As part of the Saturday (Aug. 24) action in Columbia, Mo., Concordia celebrated a 20-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22, 15-10, win over No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan and then a 25-20, 25-20, 25-18, victory over MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.).
A 3-0 weekend in The Show-Me State showed plenty in regard to what Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad is made of. The Bulldogs never wavered in moments of peril.
“It’s really fun to beat a defending national champion who’s ranked No. 1,” Boldt said. "It was a great match. I’m proud of our team’s resilience. We blocked really well, we dug really well and our offense was moving. Looking at our attack attempts – we were very balanced. That’s everything we are looking for. Ella (Waters) had some great swings. She’s getting her feet to the ball and she’s hitting over the block. (Addie) Kirkegaard was really good today. She’s getting more consistent in her attack.”
The morning victory over Indiana Wesleyan prompted the team to douse Boldt with a postgame Gatorade shower. The celebration was well-earned in light of back-to-back emotional five-set triumphs. In the latest five-setter, Concordia shook off a two-sets-to-one deficit while putting away 17 kills in the fourth set and another 10 in the fifth. It was a massive statistical weekend for the transfer Waters, who came up clutch with four kills and a block during the fifth set. She shut the door on the Wildcats with a kill for match point.
The Bulldogs used their balance to overcome a 23-kill performance from reigning NAIA National Attacker of the Year Eva Joldersma, who pairs with returning First Team All-American setter Abigail Porter. One of those kills from Joldersma gave IWU the edge after three sets before Concordia came roaring back. The 5-foot-7 outside hitter Kya Scott ripped off four-straight kills in the middle of the fourth set and accumulated a career high 14 kills. A Gabi Nordaker kill wrapped up the fourth set after IWU had come charging back (24-22) with back-to-back points.
Waters finished the win over top-ranked IWU with 17 kills while Ashley Keck posted 14 kills and 15 digs. Kirkegaard added nine kills while Nordaker recorded a team high four blocks. Becca Gebhardt paced the back row with 17 digs and the setter tandem of Savannah Shelburne and Lily Psencik combined for 58 assists as the team racked up 65 kills. Psencik also dropped in three aces. From a team perspective, the Bulldogs (.225) and Wildcats (.226) had nearly identical hitting percentages.
After the quick postgame celebration, Concordia regrouped for one final match on the weekend. Said Boldt, “I told them that this last match was going to be our toughest match. It’s more of a mental thing where you have to get yourself ready to go. Playing back-to-back games is different. It’s going to test you mentally.”
Boldt’s crew showed its maturity in making rather quick work of MidAmerica Nazarene (2-3). Waters led the way again with 13 kills (.478 hitting percentage) in an efficient effort. Kirkegaard supplied 11 kills and Nordaker produced eight of her own (to go with four blocks). In addition, Keck finished with six kills and 20 digs, Gebhardt collected 12 digs and Shelburne handed out 25 assists. On the other side of the net, the Pioneers hit only .059 and did not place an attacker into double figures in kills.
As far as university records indicate, Concordia had never before beaten an opponent ranked No. 1 nationally. The most recent Bulldog Volleyball edition to knock off a No. 2-rated opponent was the 2021 squad that toppled second-ranked Viterbo at the national tournament. Concordia had a crack at No. 1 Northwestern in last season’s GPAC tournament title match and was edged in five sets.
Another weekend event is next on the docket as the Bulldogs will play at the CSM Labor Day Classic on Aug. 30-31. The opponents over those two days will be No. 14 Bellevue University, No. 5 Viterbo University (Wis.) and Oklahoma Panhandle State University. All matches will be played at the Lied Fitness Center Fieldhouse on the College of Saint Mary campus in Omaha.
Dawgs look to build off thrilling weekend while continuing nonconference gauntlet
August 26, 2024
The fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team is riding high following a thrilling weekend in Columbia, Mo., that included wins over No. 7 Columbia College and No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University, the NAIA’s defending national champion. Both of those victories over top 10 foes went to five sets. The Bulldogs then capped the weekend by taking care of MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) in straight sets. Those results put Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad at 5-0 in the early going of 2024. Concordia will be tested significantly again this weekend as it faces three more nonconference foes as part of the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic.
This Week – CSM Labor Day Classic
Friday, Aug. 30 vs. No. 14 Bellevue (4-2), 2 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Lied Fitness Center Fieldhouse (Omaha, Neb.)
Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. No. 5 Viterbo (2-5), 11 a.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Lied Fitness Center Fieldhouse (Omaha, Neb.)
Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State (2-2), 5 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Lied Fitness Center Fieldhouse (Omaha, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs checked in at No. 4 in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll released on Aug. 14. That is the same ranking Concordia held heading into the 2023 national tournament. The program has appeared in the top 25 of each of the past 17 official NAIA polls, dating back to the tail end of the 2021 season. This marks the fifth season in a row that the Bulldogs have been ranked in the preseason. In previous preseasons, Concordia landed at No. 10 in 2020, at No. 7 in 2021, at No. 11 in 2022 and at No. 4 in 2023. The Boldts’ teams went on to earn final rankings of No. 14 in 2019, No. 8, in 2020, No. 6 in 2021 and No. 4 in 2022 and 2023. In this preseason’s GPAC coaches’ poll, the Bulldogs were pegged second behind Northwestern.
· Strong results at the CSM Labor Day Classic could put Concordia in line for a move up the rankings when a new coaches’ poll is released on Sept. 4. The victory last week over Indiana Wesleyan is believed to be the first in program history over an opponent carrying the No. 1 national ranking. The Wildcats finished last season at 38-0 and have now lost twice this August (the other loss came at the hands of No. 16 Indiana University Kokomo). Impressively, the Bulldogs dug out of holes in both victories over top 10 foes. Concordia trailed Columbia by a 13-9 score in the fifth set before a furious rally punctuated by a Gabi Nordaker kill for match point. The Bulldogs also came back from a two-sets-to-one deficit versus Indiana Wesleyan. Match point came in the form of an Ella Waters kill.
· It’s pretty clear already that the addition of Waters is a major one. The transfer from NCAA Division II Washburn University redshirted in 2023 and made her Concordia debut at this season’s Bulldog Bash. Through five matches, the Hickman, Neb., native paces the team with 60 kills (3.16 per set) on the strength of a .284 hitting percentage from the outside. The 6-foot-3 Waters can play on either pin. She notched 17 kills in the win over No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan. In her freshman season at Washburn, Waters played in 21 matches (two starts) and tallied 74 kills.
· Coaches Ben and Angie Boldt and staff have done a masterful job of preparing the 2024 team to make up for the departures of All-Americans Bree Burtwistle and Camryn Opfer and All-GPAC right side Carly Rodaway. A crew of upperclassmen bided their time and are now seizing the opportunity with increased playing time. Several juniors fall into that category, including Addie Kirkegaard, Molli Martin, Lily Psencik, Kya Scott and Savannah Shelburne. The tandem of Shelburne and Psencik has taken over the setter role and has kept the attack thriving (.244 hitting percentage and 14.11 kills per set through five matches). Psencik has also accumulated a team high six aces (tied for most with Shandy Fa’all’i). Additionally, Scott produced 14 kills versus Indiana Wesleyan and Kirkegaard put up 12 kills against Columbia.
· The two-time All-American Nordaker keeps adding to her career totals. She collected 10 blocks in the win over Columbia (in addition to the match-point kill). In 119 career collegiate matches, Nordaker has totaled 1,200 kills and 480 blocks. In the history of the program, there are only two other players who have tallied at least that many kills and blocks – Katie Werner (1,600 kills and 787 blocks) and Rachel Kirchner (1,315 kills and 760 blocks). Nordaker needs just five more kills to surpass Darcy Lindner (1,204 kills) for No. 7 on the program’s all-time kills list.
· A junior from Kearney, Neb., Ashley Keck has taken on a major role as both an attacker and as a dependable back row performer. So far this season, Keck has tallied 58 kills (3.05 per set) and 67 digs (second on the team to Becca Gebhardt’s 77 digs). Keck is also hitting a rock solid .264 from the outside. Keck enjoyed a fine outing against No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan in posting 14 kills (.323) and 15 digs. She also contributed 16 kills and 20 digs in the victory over No. 7 Columbia. Keck has run her career kill total to 658.
The opponents
Concordia will take on Bellevue for the first time since 2021 when the Bruins escaped from Friedrich Arena with a win in five sets. Bellevue has been a regular at the national tournament and in the NAIA top 25 under Head Coach Trish Siedlik, who is in her 19th season leading the program. Bellevue has returned NAIA Third Team All-American Kealy Kiviniemi on the right side. The Bruins have started this season at 4-2 with a noteworthy win over No. 12 Corban University (Ore.). The losses have come against two ranked teams: No. 10 Southern Oregon University and No. 13 Oklahoma Wesleyan University. The Bulldogs will be looking to defeat Bellevue for the first time since 2015 in an in-state series that has been played sporadically over the past decade.
Concordia and Viterbo met up as recently as 2022 when the Bulldogs walked away with a sweep as part of this same CSM Labor Day Classic. The V-Hawks are well-known for being a powerhouse volleyball program under Head Coach Ryan DeLong (19th season). Viterbo reached the NAIA national semifinals in 2023 before being eliminated by Northwestern. The V-Hawks bring back NAIA Second Team All-American middle Jada Mitchell. Viterbo has started 2024 at 2-5 while navigating a challenging schedule. All five defeats have come against teams either ranked or receiving votes, including a loss to No. 6 Midland. To their credit, the V-Hawks wrapped up action this past weekend with a win over No. 11 Missouri Baptist University.
Oklahoma Panhandle State went 8-17 last season and has opened 2024 at 2-2 with wins over Calvary Bible and Bethany College (Kan.). The Aggies also dropped a four-set decision to Briar Cliff in a neutral match. Through the first four matches this season, the team’s top hitter has been junior outside Ava Newby, who has compiled 48 kills and is hitting .214. As a team, Oklahoma Panhandle is hitting .191 with an average of 12.0 kills per set while its opponents have hit .162 with an average of 10.93 kills per set. The Aggies are slated to play four matches in Omaha this weekend.
Next week
Conference play will get started on Sept. 4 when the Bulldogs will be headed to Mount Marty. There will be a junior varsity match at 6 p.m. followed by the varsity at 7:30 p.m. in Yankton, S.D. That will be the lone outing of next week for Concordia.
Bulldogs handed first loss of 2024 by 14th-ranked Bellevue
August 30, 2024
The unblemished record fell by the wayside on Friday (Aug. 30) as the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team failed to find traction while up against No. 14 Bellevue University. The good news for the Bulldogs is they will quickly return to action on Saturday morning while continuing the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic in Omaha, Neb. Concordia will be looking to regroup after the in-state foe Bruins rolled to a 25-20, 25-18, 25-13, triumph.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad defeated No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University and No. 7 Columbia College (Mo.) last weekend while racing out to a 5-0 record. Concordia felt like it ran into a buzzsaw on Friday afternoon inside the CSM Lied Fitness Center Fieldhouse.
“Credit to Bellevue. They won the serve and pass battle,” Boldt said. “We just couldn’t find a rhythm. Sometimes these games happen. We’re still trying to figure out our toughness as a team. It’s good to go through this and see what people are like when they are frustrated and what they need in those situations so that we can get better. We need to learn from it.”
Having already swept away the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) earlier in the day, Bellevue punctuated its dominant performance by running away from the Bulldogs in the third set. As Boldt mentioned, the Bruins very clearly enjoyed an advantage in the serve and pass games. On the other side of the net, Concordia was uncharacteristically sloppy with its own passing. A normally powerful and efficient Bulldog attack was limited to an .083 hitting percentage. Furthermore, the Bulldogs committed 22 attacking errors and had only one ace compared to nine service errors.
Returning All-American Kealy Kiviniemi hammered 13 kills and added five blocks while picking Concordia apart. Bellevue (6-2) held advantages in nearly all major statistical categories: 35-30 in kills, .211 to .083 in hitting percentage, 8-1 in aces and 7-6 in blocks. The Bulldogs owned a slight edge in digs, 41-38.
Ella Waters paced Concordia with eight kills on 18 swings. She added three blocks. Three teammates posted at least five kills: Gabi Nordaker (seven), Addie Kirkegaard (six) and Ashley Keck (five). Becca Gebhardt posted a team best eight digs and Nordaker supplied four blocks. Lily Psencik notched 14 assists while Savannah Shelburne produced the team’s lone ace.
Concordia and Bellevue clashed for the first time since their 2021 meeting inside Friedrich Arena (a five-set Bruin win). Bellevue also owns a victory this season over No. 12 Corban University (Ore.) and has been a perennial national qualifying team.
On the second and final day of the CSM Labor Day Classic, the Bulldogs will go up against fifth-ranked Viterbo University (Wis.) at 11 a.m. before taking on Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Okla.) at 5 p.m. The morning match will be carried live by 104.9 Max Country. Both matches will take place inside CSM’s fieldhouse.
Bounce-back Saturday nets wins over No. 5 Viterbo, Oklahoma Panhandle State
September 1, 2024
After tasting defeat for the first time in 2024, fourth-ranked Concordia got back to Bulldog Volleyball on Saturday (Aug. 31) and emerged from Omaha, Neb., with a pair of wins. Two-time All-American Gabi Nordaker hit a smoldering .567 for the day as the Bulldogs celebrated a win over No. 5 Viterbo University (Wis.), 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-18, and a victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Okla.). The matches were played as part of the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic.
Concordia moves to 7-1 at the closure of three weekends of rugged nonconference action. The Bulldogs have taken down five opponents ranked inside the NAIA top 10.
“I was super proud of our team,” said Boldt following the win over Viterbo. “We stuck with it mentally. After yesterday’s game, I thought we kind of got outside of ourselves. We just weren’t being ourselves. Today we didn’t win the first set. I thought we stuck together and stayed under control. I think our communication was good. It was a lot cleaner today. If we wouldn’t have gone through what we did yesterday, I don’t think we would have gotten to where we are today. I think we’re better today.”
After dropping the first set to Viterbo, Concordia refused to suffer the same fate it endured in Friday’s loss to No. 14 Bellevue University. The Bulldogs even shook off a deficit of 17-13 in the second set before calling timeout and regrouping. Ella Waters promptly swatted a kill and later ended the set with another kill. A flicker of momentum was seemingly all it took for Concordia to get back on track. The Bulldogs proceeded to put the V-Hawks away by collecting a combined 28 kills on 67 swings over the third and fourth sets.
In the day’s first victory, Ashley Keck led the way with 15 kills, 10 digs and three blocks. Meanwhile, Nordaker posted 13 kills and six blocks while hitting .478 from the middle and Ella Watters sizzled with 12 kills (.429) from the pins. Becca Gebhardt added a team best 11 digs and Savannah Shelburne and Lily Psencik combined for 56 assists (on 58 kills as a team). Concordia hit .305 for the match.
In the weekend capper, the Bulldogs made quick work of Oklahoma Panhandle State (2-6). Concordia set the tone by hitting .552 with 18 kills in the opening set. The Bulldogs unleashed their depth against the overmatched foe as eight players notched at least four kills, led by nine from outside hitter Kya Scott. It was a fine performance for Lanie Brott, who tallied seven kills on 11 swings. Sydney Jelinek also saw extended action and came through with four kills. In the back row, Gebhardt and Ashlyn Wischmeier put up 13 digs apiece.
Concordia hit .339 in the final match of the weekend and showed it could respond after a disappointing result. The Boldts made some slight adjustments in the early match on Saturday – and they appeared to pay off.
Said Boldt, “We made a little adjustment in our lineup with our setters and our right sides. We flipped them in our lineup and it created some interesting offensive patterns. I liked the flow of this match a little bit better. It felt clean and it looked clean.”
It will be conference play now for the remainder of the 2024 regular season. The Bulldogs will open GPAC action on Wednesday night with a trip to Mount Marty (7-1). First serve of the varsity match is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT in Yankton, S.D. It will be Concordia’s lone outing of next week.
Start of GPAC play means mid-week trip to Mount Marty
September 2, 2024
A challenging run through nonconference play has concluded as the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team looks ahead to the grind of the GPAC. The Bulldogs will begin conference play on Wednesday with a trip to Mount Marty. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad stands at 7-1 after going 2-1 this past weekend at the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic. Concordia shook off its first defeat of the season (a straight-sets loss to No. 14 Bellevue University) by earning a four-set win over No. 5 Viterbo University (Wis.) and then a straight-sets victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State University during the stay in Omaha.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Mount Marty (7-1, 0-0 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Cimpl Arena (Yankton, S.D.)
Saturday, Sept. 7 – Bye
By the numbers
· According to Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs have played the NAIA’s 18th most difficult schedule as the calendar flips to September. Concordia is already putting together a strong résumé that includes three wins over NAIA top 10 opponents: No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 5 Viterbo and No. 7 Columbia College (Mo.). In addition, the Bulldogs have dominated the unranked foes they have played, winning in straight sets over the likes of Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho), Oklahoma City University, MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) and Oklahoma Panhandle State. Concordia is in the midst of seven-straight matches away from home after it hosted the Bulldog Bash Aug. 16-17.
· On day one of the CSM Labor Day Classic, the Bulldogs ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Bellevue. Concordia was outhit by the Bruins, .211 to .083. The Boldts chalked it up as a learning experience. Growth was shown as the Bulldogs bounced back the next day to claim wins over Viterbo and Oklahoma Panhandle State. Concordia dropped the first set to the V-Hawks before stepping on the gas. Individual statistical leaders over the past weekend included Gabi Nordaker in kills (26) and blocks (11), Becca Gebhardt in digs (32), Savannah Shelburne in assists (63) and Cassidy Knust in aces (five). Four other Bulldogs totaled at least 19 kills on the weekend: Ella Waters (25), Ashley Keck (21), Kya Scott (21) and Addie Kirkegaard (19).
· The balanced attacking of Concordia again makes it one of the nation’s most difficult teams to defend. Entering the week, the Bulldogs boast NAIA national rankings of fifth in kills per set (14.0) and tied for 16th in hitting percentage (.247). There are five Concordia hitters who have produced more than 50 kills through the season’s first eight matches: Waters (85), Keck (79), Nordaker (66), Kirkegaard (61) and Scott (57). Among those attackers, Nordaker owns the highest hitting percentage at .336.
· The two-time All-American Nordaker keeps adding to her career totals. In 122 career collegiate matches, Nordaker has totaled 1,226 kills and 491 blocks. In the history of the program, there are only two other players who have tallied at least that many kills and blocks – Katie Werner (1,600 kills and 787 blocks) and Rachel Kirchner (1,315 kills and 760 blocks). As part of last week’s action, Nordaker passed Darcy Lindner (1,204 kills) for No. 7 on the program’s all-time kills list. Nordaker has earned four All-GPAC awards (three first-team mentions) in her career.
· The 6-2 system continues to help pave the way for attacking success. So far this season, Shelburne is averaging 6.41 assists per set and Lily Psencik is averaging 5.48 assists per set. As Boldt has mentioned, the system allows Concordia to always have three attacking options in the front row. The two-setter arrangement is a departure from previous years when the Bulldogs made use of the talents of All-American setters Tara Callahan and Bree Burtwistle. Like Burtwistle, Shelburne and Psencik were ready when called upon to take on larger roles.
· As Nordaker climbs the program kills and blocks lists, the senior libero Gebhardt is doing the same on the digs list. In 99 career matches, the native of Norfolk, Neb., has tallied 1,323 digs for the seventh most in school history. It’s also the third highest digs total during the tenure of the Boldts, behind only Camryn Opfer (1,671) and Marissa Hoerman (1,437). Gebhardt’s career stat line also includes 1,336 service receptions (out of 1,388 chances) and 62 aces.
The opponent
Pegged 10th in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, Mount Marty has raced out to a 7-1 start of its own. This past weekend in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the Lancers went 4-0 with wins over Graceland University (Iowa), Tabor College (Kan.), William Penn University (Iowa) and Culver-Stockton College (Mo.). Through eight matches, Mount Marty is hitting .215 with an average of 13.97 kills per set while its opponents are hitting .121 with an average of 10.38 kills per set. Sophia Lobo Paes is in her fourth season as head coach. The ’23 team finished at 10-21 overall (3-13 GPAC). The team’s leading attacker to this point in the 2024 campaign has been freshman outside hitter Jaya Wachholtz, who is averaging 3.62 kills per set. The Lancers graduated their two All-GPAC honorees from a year ago: defensive specialist Ivy Mines and setter Ally Whitmire. After hosting Concordia on Wednesday, Mount Marty will welcome Morningside to Yankton on Saturday.
Next week
There will be some home cooking next week as the Bulldogs will entertain College of Saint Mary on Sept. 11 and Midland on Sept. 14. It will be parents weekend when Concordia hosts the Warriors.
GPAC opener results in four-set triumph at Mount Marty
September 4, 2024
In a battle between two teams that began the night with identical 7-1 records, the third-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team absorbed a push from the home team and came away victorious. Efficient nights from four main Bulldog attackers helped chalk up a 25-20, 25-16, 21-25, 25-15, win over Mount Marty on Wednesday (Sept. 4). The improving Lancers managed to extend the evening into a fourth set by hitting .242 in the third.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad notched its second true road win of the 2024 season while beginning the conference grind. Boldt liked the way his team slammed the door with a dominant fourth set.
“In the third set there, we had a couple of lapses in our serve receive, and momentum is a real thing in volleyball,” Boldt said. “They kind of capitalized on that. That kind of stuff happens. We have to stay tough – Mount Marty is very much an improved team. They’re competitive and physical. It’s a GPAC road win. We’ll take that any day.”
While Mount Marty’s Julia Weber peppered the floorboards with 19 kills, the Bulldogs easily outhit the Lancers (.300 to .145) thanks to a balanced performance that featured four players with double-figure kill totals: Ashley Keck (14), Gabi Nordaker (11), Ella Waters (11) and Molli Martin (10). Each of those Concordia standouts hit .345 or better on the night. They were facilitated by setters Savannah Shelburne (30 assists) and Lily Psencik (18 assists).
Coming off a 4-0 weekend, Mount Marty was spurred by a strong home crowd in Cimpl Arena. The best stretch of the night for the Lancers came after they trailed 19-16 in the third set. Macy Drotzmann landed a pair of ace serves as part of a 9-2 run that prompted the fourth set. That momentum was stamped out in that final set thanks to a 6-0 Bulldog spurt that pushed the advantage to 22-13. Martin surfaced for two kills as part of that surge.
Defensively, Concordia adjusted as the night wore on and came away with a 10-4 blocking advantage. Nordaker posted three blocks of her own while creeping closer to 500 for her career (494 and counting). Addie Kirkegaard also chipped in with six kills and four blocks and Shandy Fa’ali’i collected three aces. In the back row, Becca Gebhardt notched 10 digs.
Many recent matchups with Mount Marty (7-2, 0-1 GPAC) have resulted in sweeps for the Bulldogs, but the Lancers have made significant progress compared to a year ago. Tevan Erickson posted 35 assists and 12 digs a day after being named the GPAC Setter of the Week.
Said Boldt, “I was proud of our resilience in our block. They were ripping balls right on top of the net. We stuck with it and had some decent block numbers tonight. I’m proud of us coming into a tough environment in the middle of the week. Molli really came on there in the last couple of sets. We know she’s capable of doing that kind of stuff. We keep reminding her to stay aggressive.”
The Bulldogs will enjoy this weekend off while setting their sights on a return home next Wednesday (Sept. 11). That evening will bring a matchup with College of Saint Mary (7-4, 0-1 GPAC) at 7:30 p.m. CT. The two sides split last season’s pair of regular season meetings with the away team earning the victory in both instances. The Flames were beaten at home in four sets by No. 20 Midland on Wednesday.
Bulldogs to greet two in-state foes in return to Friedrich Arena
September 9, 2024
It will have been nearly a month since the Concordia University Volleyball team made a home appearance by the time first serve arrives on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs had this past weekend off from game action while preparing for visits from College of Saint Mary and No. 20 Midland. In last week’s GPAC opener, Concordia traveled to Yankton, S.D., and defeated an improved Mount Marty opponent, 25-20, 25-16, 21-25, 25-15. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad stands at 8-1 overall (1-0 GPAC) with four-straight matches against in-state GPAC rivals up next.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 11 vs. College of Saint Mary (9-5, 0-1 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. No. 20 Midland (5-6, 1-0 GPAC), 3 p.m. (Parents Weekend)
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The 8-1 start to the season resulted in the Bulldogs moving up one spot to No. 3 in the NAIA coaches’ poll released on Sept. 4. The top 25 poll featured plenty of movement as compared to the NAIA preseason rating that was unveiled in mid-August. Based on the current poll, Concordia owns wins over three nationally ranked teams: No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 17 Viterbo University (Wis.) and No. 18 Columbia College (Mo.). The lone defeat came up against now eighth-ranked Bellevue University. According to Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs have played the 18th most challenging schedule in the NAIA to this point in the season. Lofty rankings have become the norm for Concordia, which was placed at No. 1 in the NAIA in two separate polls in 2023.
· The Bulldogs and Lancers both sported 7-1 records when they met up in Yankton last week. Mount Marty pushed the match to four sets with the help of 19 kills from junior outside hitter Julia Weber. Concordia shook off the third set defeat and polished off the match by hitting .324 in the fourth set. Four Bulldogs reached double figures in kills: Ashley Keck (14), Gabi Nordaker (11), Ella Waters (11) and Molli Martin (10). Each of those Concordia standouts hit .345 or better on the night. They were facilitated by setters Savannah Shelburne (30 assists) and Lily Psencik (18 assists). Addie Kirkegaard also chipped in with six kills and four blocks and Shandy Fa’ali’i collected three aces. In the back row, Becca Gebhardt notched 10 digs.
· The two-time All-American Nordaker keeps adding to her career totals and is on the cusp of reaching 500 career blocks. In 123 career collegiate matches, Nordaker has totaled 1,237 kills and 494 blocks. In the history of the program, there are only two other players who have tallied at least that many kills and blocks – Katie Werner (1,600 kills and 787 blocks) and Rachel Kirchner (1,315 kills and 760 blocks). In recent action, Nordaker passed Darcy Lindner (1,204 kills) for No. 7 on the program’s all-time kills list. Nordaker has earned four All-GPAC awards (three first-team mentions) in her career.
· The win at Mount Marty was the first step in Concordia’s contention for another GPAC regular season title. The Bulldogs went 14-2 in GPAC regular season play in 2023 and shared the league title with Jamestown and Northwestern. Dating back to October of 2022, Concordia has won 20 of its past 23 GPAC regular season contests. Now in his seventh season as head coach, Boldt owns a conference mark of 64-32 (135-48 overall).
· The Bulldogs have not played at home since hosting the Bulldog Bash back on Aug. 16-17. Concordia went 2-0 that weekend with wins over Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) and Oklahoma City University. During the tenure of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have posted respective home records of 9-4 in 2018, 11-2 in 2019, 10-1 in 2020, 6-5 in 2021, 11-1 in 2022 and 13-1 in 2023. The totals add up to a collective home record of 62-14 from 2018 through the present.
· As Nordaker climbs the program kills and blocks lists, the senior libero Gebhardt is doing the same on the digs list. In 100 career matches, the native of Norfolk, Neb., has tallied 1,333 digs for the seventh most in school history. It’s also the third highest digs total during the tenure of the Boldts, behind only Camryn Opfer (1,671) and Marissa Hoerman (1,437). Gebhardt’s career stat line also includes 1,355 service receptions (out of 1,409 chances) and 62 aces.
The opponents
College of Saint Mary landed at No. 17 in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll before dropping out in the latest edition of the top 25. The season profile for the Flames shows a 9-5 record that includes a four-set home loss to Midland in the GPAC opener. CSM returns the 2023 GPAC Freshman of the Year in 6-foot middle hitter Azaria Green while also bringing back 6-foot senior pin hitter Grace Werner, a second team all-conference selection. Under sixth-year Head Coach Rick Pruett, the Flames have qualified for the national tournament four times (2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023). This past weekend, CSM earned a straight-sets win over previously unbeaten Evangel University (Mo.). The Flames finished 2023 at 22-9 overall (10-6 GPAC).
Midland slid back from sixth to 20th in the latest NAIA coaches’ poll. The Warriors enter the week at 5-6 (1-0 GPAC) while having played a rigorous nonconference slate. Notably, Midland owns a win over now 17th-ranked Viterbo. The Warriors bring back three All-GPAC players, including first team middle blocker Abbey Ringler and second team right side Jacki Apel. Midland ended Concordia’s 2023 season by defeating the Bulldogs in three sets with a spot in the NAIA national quarterfinals on the line. Now in his 15th season as head coach, Paul Giesselmann entered this season with a record of 333-128 at Midland. The perennially strong Warrior program reached the national semifinals in 2016, 2018 and 2022 and played in the national title match in 2020. Midland finished last season at 18-12 overall (10-6 GPAC).
Next week
The Bulldogs will be off in the middle of next week before continuing the homestand by hosting Hastings on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Nordaker reaches milestone, third-ranked Bulldogs respond to challenge from CSM
September 11, 2024
In its first home appearance in three-and-a-half weeks, the third-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team responded after visiting College of Saint Mary dominated the second set. All was well when Ashlyn Wischmeier’s ace serve landed for match point and the Bulldogs celebrated the win, 25-19, 16-25, 25-14, 25-19, inside Friedrich Arena on Wednesday (Sept. 11). Fifth-year Bulldog Gabi Nordaker stamped out the Flames with nine blocks on the evening as she eclipsed 500 for her career.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad improved to 9-1 overall (2-0 GPAC) in returning to action for the first time since last Wednesday’s four-set win at Mount Marty. This one got choppy at times, but Concordia righted the ship in the third set.
“We weren’t necessarily firing on all cylinders, but that’s going to happen,” Boldt said. “We have a good group. I was really proud of Sydney Jelinek. She came in and looked really good. She tears it up in practice, so I had no hesitation. We had rhythm at times and then we didn’t have rhythm at times. We have to be able to sustain that for the whole match.”
None of the sets had any real drama in the waning stages. The Bulldogs delivered the first blow before taking one from CSM in the second set. The Flames (9-6, 0-2 GPAC) shell-shocked Concordia with a run of 10-straight points in the second set and ran away with it. The serve and pass game for the Bulldogs evaded them for that stretch of play. CSM took advantage and hit .323 in the second set.
Boldt saw the response he wanted. Lifted up by its blocking, Concordia surged back and held the Flames to negative hitting percentages in both the third and fourth sets. Nordaker got in on nine of the team’s 11 blocks for the night. Career block No. 500 came in the third set for the Millard West High School product. Nordaker is just one of three players in the program’s history with more than 1,000 kills and 500 blocks for a career.
Said Nordaker, “I’ve been putting a lot more focus into blocking in practice. I wanted to start stronger at the beginning of the season. I feel great. I think we are lining up with the middles and with the outsides. We’ve put in a lot of work. That’s probably why our blocking numbers are so high.”
Nordaker added seven kills (.375 hitting percentage) to her stat line as the Bulldogs owned advantages in kills, 53-38, hitting percentage, .239 to .082, blocks, 11-8, digs, 62-55, and aces, 6-5. Three Concordia attackers reached double figures in kills: Ashley Keck (15 kills and 12 digs), Ella Waters (13) and Addie Kirkegaard (10). The setting duo of Savannah Shelburne and Lily Psencik combined for 41 assists. In the back row, Becca Gebhardt accumulated 20 digs.
On the other side, CSM slipped to 0-2 in conference play having also been defeated by Midland. The Flames got a team high nine kills from Liz Henrichson. The GPAC Freshman of the Year in 2023, Azaria Green was limited to four kills (in addition to four blocks).
Though there were some rough patches, Concordia ended the evening emphatically with four-straight points following a timeout. Two of those points came via ace serves from Wischmeier.
Said Boldt, “We tried a couple of things, we set some different people and we switched up our rotations. They stayed with it. In those situations, we have to execute. We go back to fundamentals and being able to do it under pressure. I think we got ourselves there. That’s what the GPAC is – it’s going to prepare you for the toughest competition, and you never get a night off.”
The three-match homestand will continue on Saturday when No. 20 Midland (6-6, 2-0 GPAC) makes a visit to Friedrich Arena. First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT. There will be a parents recognition as part of the afternoon. The Bulldogs twice defeated the Warriors during the 2023 regular season before being tripped up at the national tournament by Midland.
No. 3 Concordia topples No. 20 Midland with signature balance
September 14, 2024
Whenever a rough patch hits, this Concordia University Volleyball team always seems to have an answer. After slipping up in the third set on Saturday (Sept. 14), the third-ranked Bulldogs found their finishing touch and sent No. 20 Midland packing, 25-21, 25-17, 16-25, 25-17, inside Friedrich Arena. Three Concordia attackers tallied exactly 11 kills in a match that required the contributions of many. The Bulldogs exacted some measure of revenge in response to the 2023 national tournament loss to Midland that ended the season.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad improved to 10-1 overall while staying unbeaten (3-0) in league play. Concordia also won at home in four sets over College of Saint Mary on Wednesday.
“We’re coming together as a team,” Boldt said. “The storms are going to happen. It’s all a process all the way through it. They started going to their middles more in the third set. That was an adjustment that we had to make in terms of our blocking schemes. They started playing well and we couldn’t get out of a rotation. In the fourth set, we really got Gabi (Nordaker) going. Midland is a good blocking team. To make holes in their blocking is really tough to do. I thought down the stretch our serve and pass was the difference.”
Boldt credited the serving of Shandy Fa’ali’I and Ashlyn Wischmeier as a key factor in the Bulldogs hitting their stride in the fourth set. For a team that aspires to be gritty, Concordia certainly displayed that during a particular sequence in the second set when Lily Psencik chased down a ball near the student section and kept it alive. The point ended with an emphatic Molli Martin kill. The Bulldogs appeared to be in full control as the second set concluded. Concordia posted 17 kills and no hitting errors during a well-played second set.
A national tournament regular and GPAC power, Midland (6-7, 2-1 GPAC) fought back behind the likes of Brooklynn Snyder (18 kills) and Jacki Apel (11 kills). The Bulldogs hit .000 (eight kills and eight errors) in the third set. Concordia also found itself trailing in the fourth set before 7-0 run put it on the path to victory. Kya Scott did the honors of ending the match by pummeling her ninth kill of the afternoon.
The Midland match always comes with a unique twist for Scott, whose twin sister Kailyn plays in the Warrior back row. After striking for match point, Kya Scott also rang the bell while celebrating with a team that keeps growing. Said Scott, “This season has gotten off to a great start. This year, it seems like we’re a new team, but you would never guess we’re a new team. We have so much grit and our team culture is like none other.”
Eleven kills apiece were recorded by Ashley Keck, Addie Kirkegaard and Ella Waters. Keck also added a team high 17 digs. Other statistical leaders were Psencik in assists (24), Martin and Nordaker in blocks (four apiece) and Savannah Shelburne in aces (two). Concordia outhit Midland, .219 to .146, and had a slight advantage in blocks, 8-7. The 30 hitting errors by the Warriors loomed large.
Said Boldt, “Midland is a tough team. They’re scrappy and they’ve got a good block. They’ve got two middle blockers who are tough to get the ball past. You have to be clicking on all cylinders – the serve, the pass, the set and the attack – in order to get people clean looks. It was a team effort.”
The Bulldogs will have a break in the middle of this upcoming week before hosting Hastings (7-3, 1-1 GPAC) next Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. Concordia has won each of the past eight series meetings with the Broncos, who fell in four sets in this weekend’s clash with College of Saint Mary.
After 3-0 GPAC start, Bulldogs get midweek break before hosting Hastings
September 16, 2024
A 3-0 start to conference play comes with the reward of a midweek break for the third-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad handled both College of Saint Mary and No. 20 Midland in four sets in home action this past week. The 10-1 Bulldogs also own a conference road win over Mount Marty as part of another sterling start to a season. In this week’s lone outing, Concordia will host Hastings in closing out a stretch of three-straight home matches.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Bye
Saturday, Sept. 21 vs. Hastings (7-3, 1-1 GPAC), 3 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The victory over No. 20 Midland gave the Bulldogs a fourth this season against teams currently ranked in the top 25. Based on the current poll, Concordia’s additional wins over nationally ranked teams have occurred against: No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 17 Viterbo University (Wis.) and No. 18 Columbia College (Mo.). The lone defeat came at the hands of now eighth-ranked Bellevue University. According to Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs have played the 11th most challenging schedule in the NAIA to this point in the season. Lofty rankings have become the norm for Concordia, which was placed at No. 1 in the NAIA in two separate polls in 2023.
· It took four sets in both of last week’s outings to get the job done in in-state matchups with College of Saint Mary and No. 20 Midland. The Bulldogs handled the Flames, 25-19, 16-25, 25-14, 25-19, and then defeated the Warriors, 25-21, 25-17, 16-25, 25-17. In those matches, three Concordia attackers totaled more than 20 kills: Ashley Keck (26), Ella Waters (24) and Addie Kirkegaard (21). Waters hit a sparkling .321 from the outside. Other statistical leaders for the week included Lily Psencik in assists (44), Keck in digs (29), Gabi Nordaker in blocks (13) and Ashlyn Wischmeier in aces (three). The Bulldogs outhit the Flames/Warriors by a combined percentage of .229 to .116.
· The two-time All-American Nordaker keeps adding to her career totals and reached a career milestone last week by surpassing 500 blocks. She amassed an impressive nine blocks in the win over College of Saint Mary. In 125 career collegiate matches, Nordaker has totaled 1,248 kills and 507 blocks. In the history of the program, there are only two other players who have tallied at least that many kills and blocks – Katie Werner (1,600 kills and 787 blocks) and Rachel Kirchner (1,315 kills and 760 blocks). In recent action, Nordaker passed Renae Beikmann (1,223 kills) for No. 6 on the program’s all-time kills list. Nordaker has earned four All-GPAC awards (three first-team mentions) in her career.
· Boldt liked what he saw last week whenever Concordia happened to face a degree of adversity. The Bulldogs shook off a rough second set versus CSM and a rough third set versus Midland. In both cases, things snowballed as Concordia got stuck in rotations. Eventually, the tide turned. The Bulldogs also won two particularly long rallies in the battle with the Warriors. Right away in the opening set, Ashley Keck tracked down a ball while diving into the team’s bench. Her hustle kept the play alive before the point was finished with a Kya Scott kill. Then in the second set, Lily Psencik ranged over near the student section to keep a ball alive. Addie Kirkegaard also had a key save in that sequence that pushed Concordia’s lead to 8-4 in the second set (Molli Martin kill).
· Dating back to October 2022, the Bulldogs have gone 22-3 in their past 25 GPAC regular season outings. That stretch includes the 14-2 league mark Concordia posted in 2023 as part of a shared GPAC regular season title run. The Bulldogs also have put together a fine run at home, where they are 4-0 in 2024. During the tenure of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have posted respective home records of 9-4 in 2018, 11-2 in 2019, 10-1 in 2020, 6-5 in 2021, 11-1 in 2022 and 13-1 in 2023. The totals add up to a collective home record of 64-14 from 2018 through the present.
· The matchup with Hastings on Saturday will mark Concordia’s fourth outing of the season against an in-state opponent. The Bulldogs were swept by then 14th-ranked Bellevue University on Aug. 30 before claiming wins over College of Saint Mary and No. 20 Midland last week. Concordia went 7-2 against in-state foes in 2023. The Bulldogs have won each of the past eight series meetings with the Broncos.
The opponent
Concordia got a look at Hastings early this season when the Broncos took part in the Bulldog Bash (Aug. 16-17) and earned a win over Oklahoma City University before suffering a five-set loss to Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) inside Friedrich Arena. Pegged seventh in the GPAC preseason poll, Hastings returned three All-GPAC players: outside hitter Majesta Valasek (second team), defensive specialist Miriam Miller (honorable mention) and outside hitter Ilse Benne (honorable mention). Sixth-year Head Coach Alex Allard took the 2022 team to the national tournament. So far in conference play, the 2024 squad has beaten Doane (straight sets) and fell at College of Saint Mary (four sets). The Broncos are hitting .193 while their opponents are hitting .162.
Next week
The Bulldogs will return to a two-match week routine next week as they look forward to playing at Doane on Sept. 25 and then at home versus No. 1 Northwestern on homecoming Saturday (Sept. 28). The Red Raiders (13-0, 3-0 GPAC) will attempt to remain unbeaten this Saturday when they play at Dakota Wesleyan.
Nordaker tabbed GPAC honoree after recording 500th career block
September 17, 2024
In light of another career milestone, Concordia University graduate student Gabi Nordaker was honored by the GPAC on Tuesday (Sept. 17). The league office named the All-American middle blocker the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defensive Player of the Week. Nordaker has been named a GPAC Player of the Week five times throughout her standout career.
The Millard West High School product dominated at the net last week as the third-ranked Bulldogs earned four-set home wins over College of Saint Mary and No. 20 Midland. In the win over CSM, Nordaker tallied nine blocks while moving past 500 for her career. She added another four blocks versus Midland for a total of 13 for the week (1.63 per set). Nordaker also posted a combined 11 kills in the two victories in helping Concordia improve to 10-1 overall (3-0 GPAC).
Nordaker is one of three players in program history with more than 1,000 kills and 500 blocks. Her career totals now stand at 1,248 kills and 507 blocks. This season, Nordaker ranks third among GPAC players for blocks per set (1.26). She is hitting .344 with 88 kills through this season’s first 11 matches.
Nordaker and her teammates will return to action this Saturday when they host Hastings (7-3, 1-1 GPAC) at 3 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs are 4-0 at home in 2024.
Clutch Concordia turns away Hastings, stays unbeaten in GPAC play
September 21, 2024
Both the second and third sets raised the blood pressure on Saturday (Sept. 21) afternoon. Ultimately, the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team displayed its grit in finding a way to win down the stretch while putting away visiting Hastings, 25-13, 26-24, 26-24, inside Friedrich Arena. Junior Ashley Keck was all over the place in producing match highs for kills (17) and digs (21) in a third-straight win over an in-state GPAC opponent.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad remains unbeaten within GPAC play at 4-0 (11-1 overall). The Bulldogs returned to action after having the middle of this week off from competition.
“It takes a lot to win in this league,” Boldt said. “We feel exhausted, but I think we also feel a sense of accomplishment. We’re continuing to work through – when things aren’t going great – how do we respond to that? I’m really proud to see them stay resilient, stay with each other, fight and go get the win.”
Hastings (8-4, 2-2 GPAC) likely came away thinking the match should have been extended into a fourth set. The Broncos owned a lead of 23-22 in the second set and held advantages of 22-18 and 24-22 in the third set. In breaking the 24-24 stalemate in the second set, Concordia got back-to-back kills from Keck and Ella Waters to put it away. Then in the third, the Bulldogs rattled off the match’s final four points like this: Waters kill, Ava Greene kill, Keck kill and Keck kill.
Concordia managed to grind through a combined 19 hitting errors over the second and third sets. It also showed it could regroup after relinquishing a 21-14 lead in the second set. For the match, the Bulldogs hit only .178, but they limited Hastings to a .139 hitting percentage with the help of Keck and Becca Gebhardt (15 digs) in the back row and from Gabi Nordaker (six blocks) in the middle.
Said Waters, “I think our team definitely brought out the grit, and I think we added more joy, which helped us get on a run. We weren’t down on ourselves when we had an error. That really helped us.”
Keck played like an All-American in hitting .350 from the outside. She was backed by 10 kills from Waters and nine from Addie Kirkegaard. Meanwhile, Savannah Shelburne contributed 24 assists, eight digs and two aces. Lily Psencik posted 17 assists and nine digs as the other part of the setter duo with Shelburne. Concordia had only one service error compared to four aces.
When things got sticky, the Bulldogs could lean upon Keck. Said Boldt, “Ashley had 17 kills today. I think I’ve said this before, but Ashley’s a beast. She is a really motivated worker and she wants what’s best for the team. I think that’s the motivation behind what she does. Her attitude is, ‘I need to do this because my team needs it.’ I just really appreciated her mentality and what she’s brought to the team.”
The Broncos got a team high nine kills from Majesta Valasek. In the back row, Miriam Miller collected 19 digs. Hastings had a slight edge in blocking, 9-7. Saturday’s result extended Concordia’s series winning streak with the rival Broncos to nine.
In the middle of the upcoming homecoming week, the Bulldogs will be headed to nearby Doane (4-12, 0-4 GPAC) for a clash inside the Haddix Center. First serve of the varsity match is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT in Crete, Neb. Concordia has won four straight and 11 of the past 12 in the series with the Tigers.
Fourth-ranked Bulldogs brace for Doane, homecoming clash with No. 1 Northwestern
September 23, 2024
The week of homecoming will bring an anticipated showdown for the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team. The Bulldogs (11-1, 4-0 GPAC) remained unbeaten in GPAC play last week while taking care of Hastings in straight sets. Concordia will attempt to keep its spotless conference mark intact this week as it travels to Doane on Wednesday before hosting No. 1 Northwestern on Saturday. Currently, the Bulldogs and Red Raiders are tied atop the GPAC standings.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Doane (4-12, 0-4 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Haddix Center (Crete, Neb.)
Saturday, Sept. 28 vs. No. 1 Northwestern (14-0, 4-0 GPAC), 4 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
--Crowd theme: wear navy blue
By the numbers
· The second NAIA coaches’ poll of the 2024 regular season was released on Sept. 18. Despite having taken care of business in recent action, Concordia dropped one spot to No. 4 while being leapfrogged by former GPAC nemesis Jamestown. The Jimmies are ranked third behind No. 1 Northwestern and No. 2 Eastern Oregon University. Based on the current top 25 poll, the Bulldogs own four wins over nationally ranked foes: No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 17 Viterbo University (Wis.), No. 20 Midland and No. 25 Columbia College (Mo.). The lone defeat came at the hands of No. 8 Bellevue University. According to Massey Ratings, Concordia has played the nation’s 13th most challenging schedule.
· In last week’s only outing, the Bulldogs extended their series winning streak over Hastings to nine. Though it concluded in three sets, Concordia was forced to navigate choppy waters in both the second and third sets. Ultimately, the Bulldogs prevailed, 25-13, 26-24, 26-24, while outhitting the Broncos, .178 to .139. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s crew got a starring performance from junior Ashley Keck, who turned in match highs for digs (21) and kills (17). She hit .350 from the outside. Meanwhile, Ella Waters contributed 10 kills, Addie Kirkegaard notched nine kills, Gabi Nordaker produced six blocks and Savannah Shelburne contributed 24 assists, eight digs and two aces. Concordia had only one service error (compared to four aces).
· The Kearney, Neb., native Keck played like an All-American in the win over Hastings. Not only did she lead both sides in kills and digs, she also was a perfect 18-for-18 on serve receive. A two-time All-GPAC honoree and the 2022 GPAC Freshman of the Year, Keck is on track for major postseason honors in 2024. She leads the team with 136 kills (3.24 per set) and is hitting .245 on the season. In 71 career collegiate matches, Keck has totaled 736 kills (.207 hitting percentage), 816 service receptions and 509 digs.
· The Bulldogs are a program that has become known for offensive firepower. On the NAIA national leaderboards, Concordia ranks second in kills per set (14.07) and 11th in hitting percentage (.242). There are five Bulldogs with more than 75 kills for the season: Keck (136), Waters (130), Kirkegaard (97), Nordaker (92) and Kya Scott (77). Concordia has continued to attack with efficiency while adjusting to a 6-2 system that features setters Lily Psencik and Savannah Shelburne.
· Dating back to October 2022, the Bulldogs have gone 23-3 in their past 26 GPAC regular season outings. That stretch includes the 14-2 league mark Concordia posted in 2023 as part of a shared GPAC regular season title run. The Bulldogs also have put together a fine run at home, where they are 5-0 in 2024. During the tenure of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have posted respective home records of 9-4 in 2018, 11-2 in 2019, 10-1 in 2020, 6-5 in 2021, 11-1 in 2022 and 13-1 in 2023. The totals add up to a collective home record of 65-14 from 2018 through the present.
· Concordia will take on a No. 1-ranked team for the second time this season. Back on Aug. 24, the Bulldogs managed to outlast then top-ranked Indiana Wesleyan, the defending NAIA national champion, in five sets behind 17 kills from Ella Waters. Concordia also went up against Northwestern in 2023 when it was ranked No. 1. The Red Raiders got past the Bulldogs in five sets in the 2023 GPAC championship match. Northwestern won both of last season’s meetings with Concordia before going on to finish as the NAIA national runner up. The most recent time the Bulldogs hosted a team ranked No. 1 nationally was 2021 when top-rated Jamestown visited Friedrich Arena and won in straight sets.
The opponents
Doane announced RanDee Ochinero as the program’s new head coach in January 2024. Most recently, Ochinero served as an assistant coach at Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) and was part of teams that qualified for the national tournament in 2022 and 2023. The Tigers have started 0-4 in league play with losses coming at the hands of Hastings, Mount Marty, College of Saint Mary and No. 20 Midland. Doane is in the process of building a foundation coming off an 8-19 (6-10 GPAC) campaign in 2023. The Tigers returned Honorable Mention All-GPAC right side Taylor Sluka. Kayden Schumacher leads the team with 137 kills this season. As a team, Doane is hitting .118 while its opponents are hitting .187. Concordia has won four straight and 11 of the past 12 meetings in the series with the Tigers.
Head Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch’s Red Raiders have started 14-0 after finishing 2023 at 31-3 overall and as the NAIA national runner up. Northwestern owns four wins this season over top 25 opponents and has breezed through the first four GPAC matches (all straight sets victories). The Red Raiders returned 2023 GPAC Player of the Year Jazlin Douma (maiden name De Haan) and fellow First Team All-GPAC honorees in outside hitter Alysen Dexter and middle blocker Zavyr Metzger, who leads the NAIA in blocks per set (1.90). In terms of kills per set, Douma (4.0) and Dexter (3.67) are the top two hitters in the GPAC. Like Concordia, Northwestern has used a pair of setters – Liv Reitsma and Logan Miller. The Red Raiders lead the GPAC with a .253 hitting percentage. On the other side of the net, Northwestern’s opponents are hitting just .102.
Next week
The longest road trip of the 2024 conference slate is coming up next Friday-Saturday (Oct. 4-5) when the Bulldogs will be at new GPAC member Waldorf before heading to Dakota Wesleyan the next day. Concordia will play seven of its final 12 regular season matches away from home.
Keck doubles as GPAC Attacker and Defender of the Week
September 24, 2024
A monstrous performance in last week’s win over Hastings resulted in multiple conference awards for Concordia University Volleyball junior Ashley Keck. On Tuesday (Sept. 24), Keck was named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Attacker and Defender of the Week. Keck joins Gabi Nordaker as the second Bulldog this season to be named a GPAC Player of the Week.
A native of Kearney, Neb., Keck filled the stat sheet in fourth-ranked Concordia’s 25-13, 26-24, 26-24, home win over Hastings, recording 21 digs and 17 kills while hitting .350 and going a perfect 18-for-18 in serve receive. Fittingly, Keck ended the match with a kill. The Kearney Catholic High School product is leading the team with 136 kills in 2024. She has also compiled 145 digs and is hitting .245 from the outside.
Said Head Coach Ben Boldt following the win over Hastings, “I think I’ve said this before, but Ashley’s a beast. She is a really motivated worker and she wants what’s best for the team. I think that’s the motivation behind what she does. Her attitude is, ‘I need to do this because my team needs it.’ I just really appreciated her mentality and what she’s brought to the team.”
In her career as a Bulldog, Keck has totaled 736 kills, 816 service receptions and 509 digs. Keck was tabbed a Second Team All-GPAC award winner in 2023 and was the 2022 GPAC Freshman of the Year.
Concordia (11-1, 4-0 GPAC) will resume GPAC play on Wednesday with a road match at Doane. The Bulldogs will then host No. 1 Northwestern on Saturday.
Fourth-ranked Dawgs make quick work of Doane, shift focus to No. 1 Northwestern
September 25, 2024
Considering the standings, it would have been easy for the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team to have been caught looking ahead. With No. 1 Northwestern looming this weekend, the Bulldogs went to Crete, Neb., on Wednesday (Sept. 25) and took care of business, 25-16, 25-21, 25-10, while hitting a cool .300. The match barely lasted long enough to scuff the black top inside the Haddix Center.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has won seven straight overall and remains unbeaten in league play (5-0) heading into the heavyweight battle with the Red Raiders.
“This was a tough environment to come into,” Boldt said. “They created a lot of energy. They came at us hard. I was really proud of our team being resilient. They came back in the first set and took the lead. We stayed steady. That’s really all you can ask for. We didn’t succumb to that or have multiple errors in a row or anything like that. We kept killing the ball and stayed true to ourselves.”
Concordia (12-1 overall) kept control of the rivalry with Doane (wins in 12 of the past 13 series meetings) while ending the night in emphatically dominant fashion. The Bulldogs hit .389 in the final set and played a role in the Tigers accumulating nine hitting errors. Whenever Doane did make a push, Concordia had the answer. Doane did manage to take a 13-12 lead in the opening set and got within 24-21 in the second after the Bulldogs had jetted out to a 15-5 advantage.
But Concordia was too mature and too focused to allow this one to become interesting. Reigning GPAC Attacker and Defender of the Week Ashley Keck starred again in supplying 12 kills (.429 hitting percentage) and six digs. Meanwhile, five teammates registered at least five kills apiece: Addie Kirkegaard (eight), Gabi Nordaker (seven), Ava Greene (seven), Kya Scott (five) and Ella Waters (five).
Greene also notched four blocks as she filled in admirably in the middle. The Bulldogs have been without junior Molli Martin for the past two matches, but the team’s depth has been a strength.
Said Boldt of Greene, “I’m a big fan. She’s stepped in and done a great job. Once we put her in, we had full trust in her ability because she brings it in practice every day. She’s a beast. It’s tough to get it past her. She’s been in big, competitive situations before. She went to Papio South and they won state championships. She knows how to get out there and compete.”
Other statistical leaders for Concordia included Cassidy Knust in digs (13) and aces (two) and Savannah Shelburne in assists (20). Waters equaled Greene with four blocks. The Bulldogs outnumbered Doane in kills, 44-25, as the home team hit just .049. Concordia sent 15 different players into the match.
Natalie Wood paced the Tigers with seven kills while Taylor Sluka added six. Doane slumped to 4-13 overall (0-5 GPAC).
A highly anticipated homecoming showdown is on the docket for Saturday when action gets underway at 4 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. Top-ranked Northwestern (15-0, 5-0 GPAC) will be the opponent in a rematch of last season’s GPAC tournament championship match won by the Red Raiders in five sets. Northwestern remained unbeaten on Wednesday with a home win over Waldorf.
As Boldt said. “We’re really looking forward to it. We want to be in those matches. We want to be the best team we can be, and we have to play matches like that to be able to do that.”
Anticipated showdown lives up to hype; Red Raiders clip Bulldogs in five
September 28, 2024
The homecoming (Sept. 28) matchup between the GPAC’s two highest rated teams lived up to its billing. After absorbing a blow to start the match, the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team responded nicely before eventually being edged out in five sets by top-ranked Northwestern. The Red Raiders emerged from hostile territory with the victory, 25-17, 16-25, 16-25, 25-15, 15-12, in front of a spirted Friedrich Arena crowd.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad fell for the first time inside conference play and now stands at 12-2 overall (5-1 GPAC). Four of the past five Concordia-Northwestern meetings have gone to five sets.
“It stinks to lose, but we talk about learning (from this),” Boldt said. “We got to a point where we were competing. After that first set, ‘We were like, ‘Oh, man, what are we going to do about this?’ That’s a victim mentality. We called them out and told them to go compete. We got ourselves there and we got to where it was tight in the last set. The point where we were down 13-12, we took a swing and just missed on that. We’re going to watch that film and talk about what our block needs to do, specifically against Northwestern. I thought we matched up with them a whole lot better than we have in the past.”
It was anyone’s game in the fifth set. The decibel levels spiked when Addie Kirkegaard landed a kill to knot the score, 10-10. Northwestern then turned to reigning GPAC Player of the Year Jazlin Douma for back-to-back kills to help send it on its way. Following a Bulldog attack error, Alysen Dexter ended the match with a kill. The undefeated Red Raiders (16-0, 6-0 GPAC) showed off their championship mettle while being pushed to the brink for the first time in conference play.
Despite the loss, Concordia learned a lot of mostly good things about where it sits. The Bulldogs struggled against the mighty block of Northwestern in the opening set. Concordia then responded after being challenged in the huddle by the Boldts. Several individuals took turns rising to the occasion. Four Bulldogs produced exactly 12 kills: Ashley Keck, Kirkegaard, Gabi Nordaker and Kya Scott. Concordia hit .235 in the second set and then a sizzling .517 in the third. The second set ended on a Lily Psencik ace and the third was polished off by a Keck kill.
But Douma and the Red Raiders are a challenge to put away. Douma racked up a match high 24 kills while hitting .340 from the outside. There were three Northwestern players who got in on at least four blocks, including NAIA national blocks leader Zavyr Metzger. The Red Raiders owned advantages of 11-7 in blocks and .252 to .204 in hitting percentage.
Both teams featured a 6-2 system. Concordia setter Lily Psencik accumulated 27 assists, 12 digs and an ace while fellow setter Savannah Shelburne recorded 25 assists, eight digs and two aces. Becca Gebhardt led the back row with 13 digs and Nordaker and Kirkegaard came away with five blocks apiece.
Said Boldt, “Looking at this, I think we can play better. That part excites me about what we can be. We have to learn. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to keep getting incrementally better.” Added Boldt in explaining the lopsided nature of the first four sets of the day, “Matchups can be overwhelming sometimes. When you don’t have your best side-out rotation, that sometimes can be weak against a tough server. No. 2, if there’s a stuff block that happens, that can take you out of your rhythm. Those things sometimes pile up. In those sets, it was a game of runs.”
The lengthiest road trip of the conference regular season schedule is coming up next weekend (Oct. 4-5) when the Bulldogs will be headed to Waldorf (8-7, 2-4 GPAC) and Dakota Wesleyan (8-8, 3-2 GPAC). The Warriors of Forest City, Iowa, are in their first season as a GPAC member. Concordia has won its first two GPAC road matches while taking care of Mount Marty and Doane.
Lengthiest GPAC road trip awaits for fourth-ranked Bulldogs
September 30, 2024
Without a midweek match, the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team has a chance to process its five-set loss that came at the hands of No. 1 Northwestern inside a frenzied Friedrich Arena this past homecoming Saturday. The Bulldogs pushed the Red Raiders to the brink while nearly pulling off a second win this season over a team ranked No. 1 in the NAIA. After remaining close to home last week, Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad now prepares for its lengthiest road trip within conference play. Concordia will be headed to new GPAC member Waldorf on Friday before quickly turning around and playing at Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday.
This Week
Friday, Oct. 4 at Waldorf (8-7, 2-4 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Hanson Fieldhouse (Forest City, Iowa)
Saturday, Oct. 5 at Dakota Wesleyan (8-8, 3-2 GPAC), 3 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Christen Family Athletic Center (Mitchell, S.D.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs (12-2, 5-1 GPAC) made a strong run at defeating a No. 1-ranked team for the second time this season. Back on Aug. 24, Concordia outlasted top-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University (defending NAIA national champion) in five sets in a contest that took place in Columbia, Mo. Last week’s setback puts the Bulldogs one game behind Northwestern (16-0, 6-0 GPAC) atop the league standings. Concordia is tied with Midland (9-7, 5-1 GPAC) for second place while Dordt (10-7, 4-2 GPAC) and Dakota Wesleyan (8-8, 3-2 GPAC) have two league losses apiece. The only losses this season for the Bulldogs have come against top 10 foes: No. 1 Northwestern and No. 8 Bellevue University. Based on the most recent poll, Concordia has knocked off four NAIA top 25 opponents.
· The top five matchup with Northwestern lived up to its billing. Ultimately, the Red Raiders came away victorious, 25-17, 16-25, 16-25, 25-15, 15-12, in a display of high-level volleyball. Interestingly, each of the first four sets ended in lopsided fashion. After Northwestern had its way in the first set, Concordia responded by hitting .235 in the second set and .517 in the third set. The Bulldogs were balanced as four players notched exactly 12 kills: Ashley Keck, Addie Kirkegaard, Gabi Nordaker and Kya Scott. Other statistical leaders for Concordia included Becca Gebhardt in digs (13), Kirkegaard and Nordaker in blocks (five), Savannah Shelburne in aces (two) and Lily Psencik in assists (27). Four of the past five Concordia-Northwestern matchups have gone to five sets.
· Keck accomplished a rare feat last week in being named the GPAC Attacker and Defender of the Week, courtesy of her efforts in the win over Hastings on Sept. 21. As part of a standout season for the Kearney, Neb., native, Keck has totaled 160 kills (3.20 per set) and 160 digs (3.20 per set) while hitting .238 from the outside. A Second Team All-GPAC honoree in 2023, Keck has produced career totals of 857 service receptions, 760 kills, 524 digs and 59 blocks.
· Concordia finished with hitting percentages of .300 at Doane (straight sets win on Sept. 25) and .204 versus Northwestern. On the NAIA national leaderboard, the Bulldogs rank No. 3 in kills per set (13.96) and 13th in hitting percentage (.242). Among GPAC players, Nordaker ranks third in blocks per set (1.22), Keck ranks seventh in kills per set (3.20), Gebhardt ranks 11th in digs per set (3.61) and Ella Waters ranks 15th in kills per set (2.82). There are four Concordia players who have more than 100 kills this season: Keck (160), Waters (141), Kirkegaard (117) and Nordaker (111). Scott is knocking on the door with 94 kills.
· Dating back to October 2022, the Bulldogs have gone 24-4 in their past 28 GPAC regular season outings. That stretch includes the 14-2 league mark Concordia posted in 2023 as part of a shared GPAC regular season title run. The Bulldogs also have put together a fine run at home, where they are 5-1 in 2024. During the tenure of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have posted respective home records of 9-4 in 2018, 11-2 in 2019, 10-1 in 2020, 6-5 in 2021, 11-1 in 2022 and 13-1 in 2023. The totals add up to a collective home record of 65-15 from 2018 through the present.
· Concordia will play Waldorf for the first time since the Warriors joined the GPAC. The two programs met most recently in 2019 when Waldorf appeared at Friedrich Arena for the Bulldog Bash. Concordia won that meeting, 25-17, 25-12, 25-23, behind a team high 12 kills from Kara Stark. The Bulldogs are much more familiar with Saturday’s opponent, Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia took both 2023 meetings with the Tigers in straight sets.
The opponents
Waldorf officially became a GPAC member over the summer. The Warriors are sitting at 8-7 overall (2-4) GPAC after claiming a four-set road win over College of Saint Mary over the weekend. Waldorf has also beaten Briar Cliff within conference play. The Warriors have a challenging weekend ahead as they host both No. 4 Concordia and No. 20 Midland. Head Coach Bri Ebenhoe is in her eighth season leading the program, which is coming off a 12-15 mark in 2023. The team’s leading attacker is Kenzie Kidd, who is hitting .240 while averaging 3.06 kills per set (162 total kills). As a team, Waldorf is hitting .150 while its opponents are hitting .174. The Warriors are located in Forest City, Iowa.
Dakota Wesleyan enters the week at 8-8 overall (3-2 GPAC) after finishing 2023 at 19-15 overall (8-8 GPAC). The Tigers enjoyed a major breakthrough in 2021 and 2022 when they won 25 matches both seasons and finished both campaigns at the national tournament. DWU graduated All-American middle blocker Ady Dwight but did return Second Team All-GPAC setter Kayleigh Hybertson. So far in conference play, the Tigers have claimed wins over Waldorf, Briar Cliff and Morningside. Before hosting Concordia on Saturday, DWU will welcome Midland to town on Friday. The team’s top attacker has been outside hitter Abigail Brunsing (156 kills). Head Coach Lindsay Wilber is in her 11th season at the helm of the program.
Next week
In continuing the Friday-Saturday alignment, the Bulldogs will host the GPAC’s two Sioux City league members over the Oct. 11-12 weekend. Concordia will take on Briar Cliff on Oct. 11 before hosting No. 21 Morningside on Oct. 12.
Drawn-out second set battle highlights road sweep of Waldorf
October 4, 2024
The second set proved to be a war on Friday (Oct. 4) as the Concordia University Volleyball team played Waldorf for the first time since the Warriors officially joined the GPAC this past summer. The fourth-ranked Bulldogs ultimately won out in Forest City, Iowa, behind a starring performance in the middle from Gabi Nordaker. Concordia .282 for the night while winning its third GPAC road match this season, 25-17, 33-31, 25-13.
This was the first outing for Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad since its five-set showdown last weekend with top-ranked Northwestern. The Bulldogs have moved to 13-2 overall (6-1 GPAC).
“We came out really focused and we executed really well,” Boldt said. “I think Gabi had seven kills and zero errors in the first set. She was on fire to start – we were really clicking with our offense. We lost a little bit of the close-out mentality in the second set. We were up and Waldorf kept fighting. They didn’t give the match away. We had to earn everything that we were doing. It was fun to see us finish that set. I thought we stayed gritty through that. In the third set, we called a timeout and talked about having a finishing mentality. We really flipped the script mentally and were really aggressive in the third set.”
In that second set, Concordia allowed a 19-12 lead to slip away, setting the stage for the highest-tension moments of the evening. Waldorf had four different set-point opportunities throughout that marathon stretch. Eventually, the Bulldogs found their finishing touch as a 31-31 stalemate was broken up by an Ella Waters kill and a Warrior attack error. Concordia truly did earn the majority of its points in that set as 24 of them came on kills.
The first and third sets were a different story. The Bulldogs hit .457 in the opening set and .286 in the third while taking care of business. Nordaker set the tone early by striking for kills on each of the match’s first three points. Her first five attacks resulted in kills and she finished the night hitting .611 with 13 kills to go along with six blocks. Nordaker was equaled in the kill department by two teammates: Waters and Keck. Waters (.458 hitting percentage) needed only 24 attempts to rack up her 13 kills.
Additionally, Addie Kirkegaard added 10 kills for the victors, who outhit the Warriors, .282 to .090. Setters Lily Psencik and Savannah Shelburne supplied 22 assists apiece while Shandy Fa’ali’i came through with both of the team’s aces. In the back row, Keck and Becca Gebhardt shared a match high 13 digs while Kirkegaard cleaned up in the front row with six blocks to equal Nordaker.
Waldorf (8-8, 2-5 GPAC) was coming off a four-set road win over College of Saint Mary. The Warriors were paced by the nine kills from Kaylin Koch. Waldorf played Concordia as recently as 2019 when it appeared at the Bulldog Bash and fell in straight sets at the hands of the Bulldogs.
It was an overall solid performance on Friday for Concordia. Said Boldt, “Ella had a really good match. She hit over .400. We had three people with 13 kills and had another balanced attack. That was good … We took it home and finished the match strong. I’m really proud of the effort.”
The weekend road trip will continue on Saturday when the Bulldogs will be in Mitchell, S.D., to take on Dakota Wesleyan (8-10, 3-4 GPAC). First serve of the varsity match is set for 3 p.m. CT. Concordia won both of last season’s meeting with the Tigers in straight sets. In Friday night’s action, DWU was beaten at home by No. 18 Midland in four sets.
Gebhardt, Keck star as fourth-ranked Dawgs finish road trip with victory
October 5, 2024
It was a quick turnaround for the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team following Friday’s straight sets win at Waldorf in Forest City, Iowa. The Bulldogs trekked to Mitchell, S.D., on Saturday (Oct. 5) and pulled out a win over Dakota Wesleyan, 25-14, 25-19, 22-25, 25-13, behind 19 kills and 25 digs from Ashley Keck. Concordia hit .283 or better in each of the sets that it won.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has been perfect on the road within GPAC play (4-0) and moved to 14-2 overall (7-1 GPAC). The Bulldogs took control of their latest match with a decisive first set.
“Again, we came out really focused and executed really well in that first set,” Boldt said. “I thought that we served well. We weren’t getting a lot of blocks, but we were digging the ball in system and we were able to kill the ball. It was great focus coming out of the gate. We sustained it into the second set and we couldn’t quite close it out in the third. Dakota Wesleyan made some plays and we had a couple errors. It was nice to see us turn it around in the fourth and really put them away. I thought we refocused and did a nice job.”
Not only did Keck clean up in the back row, so too did libero Becca Gebhardt, who piled up 32 digs in a starring effort that helped limit the Tigers to a .108 hitting percentage. The passing of Gebhardt helped set tee up four Bulldog attackers that reached double figures in kills: Keck (19), Gabi Nordaker (14), Ella Waters (11) and Ava Greene (10). The 10 kills were a career high for the Papillion, Neb., native Greene.
DWU (8-11, 3-5 GPAC), an NAIA national qualifier in 2021 and 2022, found some traction in the third set. A five-point run for the Tigers in that set helped spark them to a triumph that extended the match into a fourth. DWU was led by the 13 kills from Evy Knoblock. It managed only two service aces in the face of a strong defensive effort for Concordia.
Nordaker added four blocks to her stat line and the setter duo of Savannah Shelburne (32 assists) and Lily Psencik (23 assists) assisted on 55 of the team’s 64 kills (.261 hitting percentage). On the other side of the net, the Tigers posted only 32 kills. Shandy Fa’ali’i landed two of Concordia’s five aces (to go against eight team service errors). As part of the back row, Cassidy Knust added 13 digs.
This was the lengthiest road trip of the GPAC regular season for a Bulldog squad that traveled to Columbia, Mo., as part of nonconference action. Concordia passed the test and will now have nearly a week before its next outing.
Said Boldt, “The road trip was a long one. You play late on Friday and then midday the next day with travel in between. I was proud of our ability to focus for long periods of time. It was a grind, but that’s what this conference is.”
The Bulldogs will return to Friedrich Arena to host the GPAC’s Sioux City residents, Briar Cliff (6-14, 0-8 GPAC) and Morningside (17-6, 5-3 GPAC), the weekend of Oct. 11-12. Concordia will celebrate a class of six seniors on Saturday, Oct. 12. The Bulldogs own a home record of 5-1 this season.
No. 4 Concordia readies for return home, senior day festivities
October 7, 2024
Following a weekend on the road, the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team looks forward to a return to Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs are now halfway through GPAC regular season play after taking care of business in road wins over Waldorf (straight sets) and Dakota Wesleyan (four sets). Entering the week at 14-2 overall (7-1 GPAC), Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad will have several days to prepare for the arrival of Briar Cliff and Morningside. Prior to first serve on Saturday, Concordia will honor a group of six seniors.
This Week
Friday, Oct. 11 vs. Briar Cliff (6-14, 0-8 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. Morningside (17-6, 5-3 GPAC), 3 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
--Senior Day
By the numbers
· A new set of NAIA national ratings was released on Oct. 2. The Bulldogs remained steady at No. 4 in the coaches’ poll. Concordia has spent this entire season inside the top five and was ranked as high as No. 3. Based on the current top 25, the Bulldogs have defeated three ranked opponents: No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 15 Viterbo University (Wis.) and No. 18 Midland. Concordia also owns two wins over teams in the “receiving votes” category: Columbia College (Mo.) and MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.). GPAC rival Northwestern (19-0, 8-0 GPAC) was a unanimous No. 1 (all 20 first-place votes) in the latest poll and remains undefeated.
· The GPAC road record has moved to 4-0 after the wins last week at Waldorf and Dakota Wesleyan. The Bulldogs defeated the Warriors of Forest City, Iowa, 25-17, 33-31, 25-13, and the Tigers of Mitchell, S.D., 25-14, 25-19, 22-25, 25-13. Concordia’s combined statistical leaders in those two matches were Ashley Keck in kills (32), Gabi Nordaker in blocks (10), Becca Gebhardt in digs (45), Savannah Shelburne in assists (54) and Shandy Fa’ali’i in aces (four). In addition, Nordaker added 27 kills and Ella Waters produced 24 kills. Notably, sophomore Ava Greene notched a career high 10 kills in the win at Dakota Wesleyan. Greene has seen increased playing time in the absence of junior Molli Martin. The Bulldogs met up with new GPAC member Waldorf for the first time since 2019.
· A native of Norfolk, Neb., Becca Gebhardt moved to fifth place on the program’s all-time digs list over the weekend. She ran her career dig total to 1,443, pushing her past Marissa Hoerman (1,437) for No. 5 on the list. The top four digs leaders in school history are Becky Ernstmeyer (2,235), Carli Smith (1,761), Camryn Opfer (1,671) and Jocelyn Garcia (1,594). Meanwhile, Gabi Nordaker sits No. 6 on the program’s all-time kills list with 1,298. She is fast approaching the likes of Paige Getz (1,331) and Rachel Kirchner (1,315). Nordaker is one of three players in program history with more than 1,000 kills and 500 blocks for a career.
· Concordia remains an offensive force. On the national statistical leaderboards, the Bulldogs rank second in kills per set (14.34) and 10th in hitting percentage (.246). Concordia has accomplished those lofty rankings while using a balanced attack including five players with more than 100 kills on the season: Ashley Keck (192), Ella Waters (165), Gabi Nordaker (138), Addie Kirkegaard (130) and Kya Scott (105). The offense has continued humming as it has adjusted to a 6-2 system that relies on the setting abilities of Lily Psencik and Savannah Shelburne. From a GPAC perspective, Keck (3.37 kills per set) and Waters (2.89 kills per set) rank sixth and 14th, respectively, in kills per set.
· The 2023 Bulldogs set a new program record for GPAC wins in a season while finishing with a 14-2 league mark and a share of the regular season title. Concordia is on track to challenge that record as it stands 7-1 in league play. Two more wins would guarantee an above .500 GPAC record for the sixth straight season under the Boldts’ leadership. Since the start of the ’22 season, the Bulldogs have gone a combined 33-7 in conference regular season action.
· The seniors have had a major role in the aforementioned recent success. The senior class includes Becca Gebhardt, Kelsi Heard, Cassidy Knust, Macy McClain, DeLaney Novy and Ashlyn Wischmeier. Those seniors arrived in the fall of 2021 and were part of the ’21 team that reached the quarterfinals of the NAIA national tournament and helped the ’23 team earn a share of the GPAC regular season championship. Over their time at Concordia, the program owns a combined record of 83-24 and is on track to qualify for another national tournament.
The opponents
Briar Cliff will carry an 0-8 league mark into Friedrich Arena after it was beaten twice at home this past weekend. It suffered losses to College of Saint Mary and Mount Marty. Head Coach Lindsey Weatherford is in her sixth season leading the program, which is coming off a 7-23 record (2-14 GPAC) in 2023. The Chargers graduated their two All-GPAC players from last season, Toria Andre and Sami Wasmund. Briar Cliff’s leading attacker is Emma Brenelli, who has accumulated 149 kills while hitting .116. As a team, the Chargers are hitting .122 while their opponents are hitting .167. Briar Cliff’s most recent win over the Bulldogs came in 2017.
Morningside broke through with an NAIA national tournament appearance in 2023 (resulting in a loss to Indiana University Kokomo in the opening round). The occasion marked the Mustangs’ ninth all-time national tournament berth and first since 2019. On the strength of an 11-2 start to this season, Morningside vaulted to No. 15 in the NAIA coaches’ poll released on Sept. 4. They have since dropped from the top 25. Head Coach Jessica Squier (fifth season) returns First Team All-GPAC outside hitter Sydney Marlow and second team all-conference setter Aleksandra Dalach. The Mustangs enter this week riding a four-match GPAC win streak. Their signature victory out of conference came over then 15th-ranked Montana Western. Marlow paces the team with 264 kills (3.30 per set) on the season. Morningside is hitting .198 as a team while holding opponents to a .122 hitting percentage. The Mustangs last defeated Concordia in 2019.
Next week
The Bulldogs will be back on the road next week as they look ahead to matchups with College of Saint Mary on Oct. 16 and with Dordt on Oct. 19. Concordia defeated the Flames in four sets in Seward on Sept. 11.
Gebhardt, Keck pull in GPAC Player of the Week awards
October 8, 2024
A pair of upperclassmen standouts from the Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team netted GPAC Player of the Week awards following the Bulldogs’ weekend road trip. As announced by the league office on Tuesday (Oct. 8), senior Becca Gebhardt has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defender of the Week while junior Ashley Keck has been recognized as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Attacker of the Week. Keck has totaled three GPAC weekly honors this season while Gebhardt has earned such distinction for the first time in her career.
A native of Norfolk, Neb., Gebhardt enjoyed a strong weekend in the back row as the fourth-ranked Bulldogs took home wins over Waldorf (straight sets) and Dakota Wesleyan (four sets). Over those two wins, Gebhardt compiled 45 digs (6.43 per set) and was a perfect 30-for-30 in serve receive. Gebhardt’s 32 digs at Dakota Wesleyan represented a season high. As part of the weekend, Gebhardt moved up a spot to No. 5 on the program’s all-time digs list with 1,443 for her career. The Lutheran High School Northeast alum has twice been named an Honorable Mention All-GPAC selection.
An outside hitter from Kearney, Neb., Keck emerged as Concordia’s kills leader in both matches last week. She went for 13 kills on 35 swings at Waldorf and then tallied 19 kills on 44 attempts at Dakota Wesleyan. Keck also added 38 digs on the weekend. The Kearney Catholic High School grad owns career totals of 792 kills, 562 digs and 894 serve receptions. On the season, Keck is hitting .242 with a team high 192 kills to go along with 198 digs. Keck was tabbed a Second Team All-GPAC honoree in 2023.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad (14-2, 7-1 GPAC) is slated to host Briar Cliff (6-14, 0-8 GPAC) on Friday and Morningside (17-6, 5-3 GPAC) on Saturday. The program will honor its senior class prior to first serve on Saturday.
All Dawgs contribute in sweep of Briar Cliff
October 11, 2024
Eighteen Bulldogs saw action and Maddie Paulsen returned to the court for the first time in 2024 as the fourth-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team took care of business on Friday (Oct. 11). The Bulldogs absorbed a strong push from the Chargers in the opening set and took it in three, 25-21, 25-13, 25-19. Eight Concordia players registered at least one kill and the home team managed to limit Briar Cliff to an .058 hitting percentage.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad played at home for the first time in the month of October and ran its overall mark to 15-2 (8-1 GPAC).
“It was good to get a couple of players in there in the last set,” Boldt said. “It’s good to see Maddie Paulsen get her first kill since her injury last year. We had a little trouble finding a rhythm in the first set, but I thought we did a good job of fighting. In the second set we found some rhythm. With the Friday-Saturday schedule, we’re off for a little bit. We have to get at it. I think this does a good job of simulating what the national tournament is going to be. We have to be able to start off more aggressively with the things that we can control. I thought we got there in the second set.”
The Bulldogs were forced to regroup in the first set after they allowed an 18-13 lead to slip away. Briar Cliff came all the way back to knot it, 20-20. Down the stretch, Concordia leaned upon Ashley Keck, who smashed seven of her match high 10 kills in the first set. Keck ended the Charger threat by hammering down point Nos. 24 and 25. The Bulldogs essentially controlled the action the rest of the way as the Boldts tinkered with new lineups and rotations.
It was a feel-good moment in the third set when Paulsen put away the pass from Lily Psencik for her first kill of the campaign. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native had not played in a varsity match since tearing her ACL in the 2023 GPAC tournament championship match. In addition, Lanie Brott emerged in the third set and supplied three kills. Concordia actually used three different setters as Psencik (19 assists), Savannah Shelburne (18 assists) and Kelsi Heard (five assists and an ace) took their turns on the floor.
Keck was followed in the kill department by teammates Gabi Nordaker (nine kills and three blocks), Addie Kirkegaard (eight), Ella Waters (eight) and Ava Greene (seven). Keck paced the back row with 13 digs while Cassidy Knust added 10 digs and two aces and Becca Gebhardt came up with eight digs. The Bulldogs hit .235 as a team and out-killed Briar Cliff, 50-26.
The Chargers (6-15, 0-9 GPAC) remain in search of their first GPAC win. Isabelle Lenz topped Briar Cliff with seven kills and libero Avery Beller collected 22 digs. Briar Cliff will be headed to Fremont to play Midland on Saturday.
Said Boldt of Concordia’s upcoming match, “For tomorrow, there are a lot of things that happen with senior day. Our junior class has put a lot into it. We do things outside of the match to make it special for our senior class. We have to be able to do that stuff and also be prepared for the match. That’s going to be our challenge. We’re starting that preparation now with our mentality.”
The Bulldogs will be right back inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday to host Morningside (17-7, 5-4 GPAC). First serve of the varsity match is set for 3 p.m. CT. In Friday action, the Mustangs fell in five sets at No. 18 Midland. Prior to Saturday’s match, Concordia will honor its six seniors: Becca Gebhardt, Kelsi Heard, Cassidy Knust, Macy McClain, Delaney Novy and Ashlyn Wischmeier.
Senior day victory polished off in dominant fashion as Dawgs move to 9-1 in GPAC play
October 12, 2024
If the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team was feeling the pressure after dropping the first set on Senior Day Saturday (Oct. 12), it sure didn’t look it. In that moment, senior Becca Gebhardt asked Head Coach Ben Boldt for two ‘low-fives’ to break the tension. The Bulldogs proceeded to take control of the match and earned the victory over visiting Morningside, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-15, inside Friedrich Arena.
Concordia improved to 16-2 overall (9-1 GPAC) with six of eight home GPAC regular season matches in the books.
“Morningside started off with a really aggressive attack,” Boldt said. “We were talking to our team about mentally preparing for senior day and being able to focus on the match. I don’t have the answer on whether or not we started slow because of senior day stuff or what, but that stuff’s going to happen. We refocused and got back to competing. If we do that at a high level, we’re going to put ourselves in a good mentality to be ready for the next point.”
Returning First Team All-GPAC outside hitter Sydney Marlow and the Mustangs had their sights set on spoiling the party on senior day. Morningside (17-7, 5-5 GPAC) hit .324 (14 kills and two errors) in the opening set that concluded with Claire Wilson’s kill. Wilson and Marlow finished with 13 and 12 kills, respectively, in the bid for an upset. On the other side, Concordia’s potent attack started slow with an .095 first-set hitting percentage.
The Bulldogs barked back in the second set behind a series of energy plays from 6-foot-2 pin hitter Addie Kirkegaard. Kirkegaard rose up for a block that pushed Concordia’s lead to 12-4 in the second set, and the home team was on its way. The Bulldogs unleashed their array of attackers, including four that finished in double figures for kills: Gabi Nordaker (13), Ashley Keck (12), Kirkegaard (10) and Ella Waters (10). A kill from for match point led to senior Macy McClain doing the honors of ringing the victory bell.
In the third set, the All-American Nordaker moved to No. 5 on the program’s all-time kills list (now at 1,320) as she jumped in front of a former All-American in Rachel (Kirchner) Miller (1,315). Nordaker hit .500 on the afternoon and added four blocks. Other statistical leaders included Waters in blocks (five), Becca Gebhardt in digs (17), Lily Psencik in assists (21) and Kate Griess in aces (three). Keck added 14 digs as Morningside finished with a .133 hitting percentage.
Gebhardt was among the seniors honored prior to first serve. The class also includes Kelsi Heard, Cassidy Knust, Macy McClain, Delaney Novy and Ashlyn Wischmeier. It was hard not to feel some type of emotion considering the investment over the past four years.
Said Gebhardt, “It was really fun. It was really fun to have the support from family and friends and knowing what we’ve been through the past four years together with our senior class. It’s really nice to celebrate each other.” Added Wischmeier, “I just focus on taking in the little moments. During the game, I took a look around at everyone who supported us these last four years. That was really sentimental to us. It means a lot.”
Once Concordia shook off the emotions of senior day, it returned to form in time to post yet another GPAC victory. Said Boldt of the final three sets, “The rhythm was a lot better. Part of how we’re built as a team is we get kills. That’s part of our offense. It was kind of tough when we weren’t getting kills. We eventually found it. We were balanced there. We had four people in double digits. Morningside is a good team. They’re physical and they can really stress you with their attack.”
After back-to-back at home, the Bulldogs will be on the road next week. Up next will be Wednesday’s clash in Omaha with College of Saint Mary (13-10, 4-6 GPAC). Concordia will be aiming for a regular season sweep of the Flames, an opponent it beat in four sets in Seward on Sept. 11. In this weekend’s action, CSM split a pair of home matches while falling to No. 1 Northwestern before defeating Dordt.
Road trips to Omaha and Sioux Center up next for GPAC contending Concordia
October 14, 2024
Roughly three-and-a-half weeks remain in the 2024 NAIA women’s volleyball regular season. The fourth-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team continues the GPAC grind this week as it hits the road to take on College of Saint Mary and Dordt. The Bulldogs protected the home court this past weekend with conference wins over Briar Cliff (straight sets) and Morningside (four sets). Six seniors were celebrated prior to the victory over the Mustangs. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad is enjoying another special season and sits at 16-2 overall (9-1 GPAC).
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 16 at College of Saint Mary (13-10, 4-6 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
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Saturday, Oct. 19 at Dordt (12-9, 6-4 GPAC), 5 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: DeWitt Gymnasium (Sioux Center, Iowa)
By the numbers
· The most recent set of NAIA national ratings was released on Oct. 2. The Bulldogs remained steady at No. 4 in the coaches’ poll. Concordia has spent this entire season inside the top five and was ranked as high as No. 3. Based on the current top 25, the Bulldogs have defeated three ranked opponents: No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 15 Viterbo University (Wis.) and No. 18 Midland. Concordia also owns two wins over teams in the “receiving votes” category: Columbia College (Mo.) and MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.). GPAC rival Northwestern (21-0, 10-0 GPAC) was a unanimous No. 1 (all 20 first-place votes) in the latest poll and remains undefeated.
· Last week was about taking care of business as the Bulldogs took on two unranked opponents. Concordia defeated Briar Cliff, 25-21, 25-13, 25-19, while outhitting the Chargers, .235 to .058, and outnumbering them in kills, 50-26. Ashley Keck led the charge with 10 kills and 13 digs. The next day, the Bulldogs shook off a downer in the first set and toppled Morningside, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-15. Concordia held advantages in hitting percentage, .215 to .133, kills, 52-45, and blocks, 10-7. In the middle, fifth-year Bulldog Gabi Nordaker was especially efficient with 13 kills coming on 22 swings. Combined statistical leaders over the two weekend home wins included Keck and Nordaker in kills (22 apiece), Nordaker in blocks (seven), Keck in digs (27), Lily Psencik in assists (40) and Kate Griess and Savannah Shelburne in aces (three apiece).
· Two current Bulldogs own top five all-time program rankings in major statistical categories. In the win over Morningside, two-time NAIA All-American Gabi Nordaker moved up a rung to No. 5 in school history for career kills with 1,320, boosting her above Rachel (Kirchner) Miller (1,315). Nordaker also ranks third in program history for career blocks with 536. In addition, senior Becca Gebhardt recently moved into the top five all-time for career digs. Her total now stands at 1,468 digs as she looks to become the fifth Bulldog to ever reach 1,500. Junior Ashley Keck has played at an All-American level this season and is closing in on the top 15 of the program’s all-time kills list. She currently has 814 career kills (No. 15 on the list is Tiegen Skains with 845).
· Concordia remains an offensive force. On the national statistical leaderboards, the Bulldogs rank second in kills per set (14.36) and 12th in hitting percentage (.243). Concordia has accomplished those lofty rankings while using a balanced attack including five players with more than 100 kills on the season: Ashley Keck (214), Ella Waters (183), Gabi Nordaker (160), Addie Kirkegaard (148) and Kya Scott (111). The offense has continued humming as it has adjusted to a 6-2 system that relies on the setting abilities of Lily Psencik and Savannah Shelburne. From a GPAC perspective, Keck (3.40 kills per set) and Waters (2.86 kills per set) rank fourth and 15th, respectively, in kills per set.
· Under the Boldts’ direction, the Bulldogs will finish with a winning conference record for the sixth straight season. In year one with Ben and Angie leading the way, a rebuilding Concordia went 5-11 in the GPAC. Since then, the league records have been 11-5 in 2019, 12-3 in 2020, 9-7 in 2021, 12-4 in 2022, 14-2 in 2023 and 9-1 so far in 2024. The totals add up to a 72-33 career GPAC mark for Ben Boldt. The ’23 team shared the GPAC regular season title. In addition, the Bulldogs have appeared in each of the past three GPAC tournament championship matches.
· Only two home matches are left this regular season. Inside Friedrich Arena, Concordia has been exceptionally difficult to beat. The Bulldogs are 7-1 at home this season (only loss was a five-set defeat vs. No. 1 Northwestern) after going 13-1 on the home court in 2023. Conversely, Concordia has also been strong on the road having won each of its first four GPAC away contests. During the GPAC era, the only Bulldog squad to go unbeaten in GPAC regular season road matches was the 2000 squad that also shared the conference championship. In ’00, Concordia went 9-1 in league play while coached by Becky Ernstmeyer.
The opponents
The Bulldogs will be aiming for a season sweep of College of Saint Mary, an opponent they defeated in Seward, 25-19, 16-25, 25-14, 25-19, on Sept. 11. The Flames began this season ranked No. 17 in the NAIA coaches’ poll but have since dropped out while enduring six GPAC losses. CSM has been a strong program under Head Coach Rick Pruett, who took the Flames to the national tournament in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. CSM returns the 2023 GPAC Freshman of the Year in 6-foot middle hitter Azaria Green while also bringing back 6-foot senior pin hitter Grace Werner, a second team all-conference selection. This past weekend, the Flames were defeated at home by No. 1 Northwestern in straight sets before they rebounded with a four-set win over Dordt. CSM and Concordia split their two regular season meetings in 2023.
At 12-9 (6-4 GPAC), Dordt may be the most improved team in the GPAC. The Defenders were pegged eighth in the GPAC preseason poll after finishing 2023 at 4-18 overall (3-13 GPAC). Dordt has been a national championship contender in the recent past and has twice been the NAIA national runner up. Defender setters Carlee Jackson and Kelly McArthur will look to spray the ball often to pin hitters in Ellie Dokter (249 kills) and Tarren Spartz (237 kills). In this past week’s action, Dordt won at Mount Marty in four sets and then fell at College of Saint Mary in four. Head Coach Jacki Smith’s squad currently resides in fourth place in the GPAC after missing the conference tournament in 2023. The Bulldogs defeated the Defenders in the regular season in both 2022 and 2023.
Next week
The stretch run of GPAC play will continue as Concordia hosts Mount Marty on Oct. 23 and then makes a visit to Hastings on Oct. 26. Once next week arrives, only four matches will remain in the regular season.
Kirkegaard strikes for career high in continuation of road perfection
October 16, 2024
The crowds keep gathering in road venues where the third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team descends upon. Unfazed, the Bulldogs keep dashing upset hopes with remarkable consistency. In action in Omaha on Wednesday (Oct. 16), Concordia swept away College of Saint Mary, 29-27, 25-16, 25-22, while hitting a smoldering .347 as a team. Addie Kirkegaard hit .464 and landed a career high 15 kills.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad remained undefeated in GPAC road matches (5-0) and has improved to 17-2 overall (10-1 GPAC). The Bulldogs remain one game in back of first place in the league standings.
“It was an offensive battle tonight,” Boldt said. “It was a fun one to watch. It’s always tough to get a ball down on College of Saint Mary. Towards the end there, there were a couple balls that we got a pretty got hold of and they got them up. We had to stay patient and work hard to get ourselves in positions to attack. We needed to lean on our strength of offense tonight.”
That’s exactly what Concordia did in pulling set No. 1 out of the fire. It took 23 kills to get it done. Gabi Nordaker came through with a kill for point No. 28 and Ashley Keck followed with another for point No. 29 to stamp out the threat. As part of the offensive onslaught, Keck and Kirkegaard went off for 15 kills apiece. Fittingly, it was a Kirkegaard kill that signaled match point in a competitive third set. The performance marked the eighth time this season that Kirkegaard has hit double figures in kills.
It was a fine evening for the setting duo of Lily Psencik (25 assists) and Savannah Shelburne (20 assists), who combined for 45 assists on the team’s 55 kills. In following Keck and Kirkegaard on the attack, Nordaker (eight), Kya Scott (seven) and Ava Greene (four) each supplied at least four kills. In addition, the Bulldogs enjoyed a sizable advantage in blocks, 8-1. The blocking efforts were led by Scott (five) and Nordaker (four) and Kate Griess contributed a pair of aces. Meanwhile, Becca Gebhardt topped the back row with 14 digs.
A tweak to the CSM lineup meant that the Flames (13-11, 4-7 GPAC) showcased a bit different look than what Concordia saw in the meeting in Seward back on Sept. 11 (won by the Bulldogs in four sets). Returning All-GPAC players Azaria Green and Grace Werner paced the home team with 12 kills apiece. CSM hit a solid .218 as it employed a 6-2 system of its own.
Said Boldt, “They recently switched up their rotation. They took one of their middles and put her on the right side, which really creates a different lineup for them. It was a great move for them. It was tough to defend, but we out-dug them and out-killed them … I thought Addie Kirkegaard had a great game. When we needed a kill, we tried to run some action away from her and then set Addie.”
A road trip to Sioux Center, Iowa, is coming up Saturday when the Bulldogs will take on Dordt (13-9, 7-4 GPAC). First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT from DeWitt Gymnasium, a place Concordia visited most recently in 2022 (resulting in a straight sets win for the Bulldogs). In Wednesday’s action versus Briar Cliff, the Defenders earned a victory in straight sets.
Third-ranked Bulldogs survive upset scare in five-set win at Dordt
October 19, 2024
The possibility of an upset felt real as Dordt forged in front, 13-11, in the fifth set in action in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Saturday (Oct. 19) evening. Just moments later, the third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team exhaled as a Defender attack sailed out of bounds for match point. The Bulldogs held off Dordt, 25-15, 25-23, 14-25, 29-31, 16-14, in the fourth five-set match they’ve played this season.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad remains unbeaten in GPAC road matches (6-0) while improving to 18-2 overall (11-1 GPAC) with four matches remaining in the regular season.
“I’m proud of our team,” Boldt said. “Sometimes you win clean. Sometimes you win ugly. Sometimes you lose. It was really great effort, really good competition and just really proud of our team. We stuck with it and finished it out in the end. If we’re going to grow into a championship team, we’re going to have to do things at a high level across the board. We’re going to get everybody’s best shot. Dordt brought everything they got at us. Dordt was swinging fearlessly and aggressively.”
Down 13-11 in the fifth set, Concordia evened up as Gabi Nordaker and Ashley Keck went back-to-back with a kill apiece. The Bulldogs later gained the lead, 15-14, when Kate Griess landed an ace. After a Dordt timeout, the errant Defender attack allowed the visitors to breathe a sigh of relief. Keck and Ella Waters came through in the clutch with three kills each in the fifth set.
The improved Defenders (13-10, 7-5 GPAC) made this one a nailbiter while impressively holding Concordia’s powerful attack in check over the third and fourth sets. Dordt hit .345 in the third set and then posted 15 kills in the fourth set. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs mustered only five kills in the third set while hitting in the red. Three days after playing a match characterized by offensive firepower at CSM, Concordia had to get down and gritty on Saturday.
Though the Bulldogs were outkilled, 60-52, by Dordt, they held advantages in digs, 83-68, and in blocks, 14-11. Four Concordia players registered double figures in digs: Becca Gebhardt (19), Keck (14), Cassidy Knust (12) and Savannah Shelburne (10). Up front, middle Ava Greene rose up for eight blocks while Nordaker and Waters were credited with six stuffs apiece. From an attacking perspective, Waters led the way with 16 kills while Keck added 11 and Nordaker produced 10.
Narrowly, the Bulldogs had the upper hand in hitting percentage, .123 to .108. The top attacker for the Defenders was Tarren Spartz with 17 kills. Dordt has made major strides after finishing last season at 4-18 (3-13 GPAC).
Said Boldt, “We out-dug them by a lot. Props to our back row and our resilience all the way through. That’s the thing we’re going to take away and build upon. Kate (Griess) got an ace to give us the lead there at the end. As a service specialist, you come in the game and you’re cold and you go out there and make a difference in the game. It was a really competitive, fun match.”
Next up, the Bulldogs will be back inside Friedrich Arena to host Mount Marty (12-10, 4-7 GPAC) at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Concordia defeated the Lancers in four sets in Yankton, S.D., on Sept. 4. In this weekend’s action, Mount Marty ventured to Waldorf (match in progress as release was finalized). Wednesday’s match will be a pink out to promote breast cancer awareness.
Perfect October run to be challenged by Mount Marty, Hastings
October 21, 2024
There were some tense moments, but the third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team kept its unblemished October record (6-0) intact. The Bulldogs earned wins last week on the home courts of College of Saint Mary (straight sets) and Dordt (five sets) while remaining in the hunt for a GPAC regular season title. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad improved to 18-2 overall (11-1 GPAC) with four matches remaining in the regular season. In this week’s action, Concordia will host Mount Marty on Wednesday before traveling to play Hastings on Saturday. The Bulldogs will be aiming for regular season sweeps of both opponents.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 23 vs. Mount Marty (12-11, 4-8 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
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--Pink match for breast cancer awareness.
Saturday, Oct. 26 at Hastings (12-8, 6-5 GPAC), 4:30 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Lynn Farrell Arena (Hastings, Neb.)
By the numbers
· In the latest NAIA coaches’ poll released on Oct. 16, the Bulldogs moved up one spot to No. 3, equaling their highest ranking of the season. Eastern Oregon University dropped from third to fourth following a five-set defeat at the hands of conference rival and fifth-ranked Southern Oregon. Based on the current top 25, Concordia has defeated three nationally ranked foes: No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 14 Viterbo University (Wis.) and No. 18 Midland. The Bulldogs also own wins over two teams listed among other “receiving votes”: Columbia College (Mo.) and Morningside. Both of Concordia’s defeats have come at the hands of current top 10 teams: No. 1 Northwestern and No. 8 Bellevue.
· Last week displayed what a grind the GPAC can be. The Bulldogs shook off a strong push from College of Saint Mary in the first set on Oct. 16 and won in straight sets, 29-27, 25-16, 25-22, in Omaha. As a major highlight, Addie Kirkegaard posted a career high 15 kills (.464 hitting percentage). Three days later, Concordia was forced to play five sets in a road battle with Dordt. The Bulldogs managed to rally back from a 13-11 deficit in the fifth to win, 25-15, 25-23, 14-25, 29-31, 16-14, in Sioux Center, Iowa. Kate Griess emerged with a crucial ace late in that match. Meanwhile, Ella Waters led the attack with 16 kills and a .344 hitting percentage. Ava Greene’s eight bocks at Dordt represented a career high. Concordia is now 3-1 this season in five-set matches.
· In the back row, Becca Gebhardt tallied 33 digs and was near perfect in serve receive (31-for-32). In the win at Dordt, Gebhardt became the fifth player in program history to reach 1,500 career digs. The top four on the list are Becky Ernstmeyer (2,235), Carli Smith (1,761), Camryn Opfer (1,671) and Jocelyn Garcia (1,594). A native of Norfolk, Neb., Gebhardt has twice been named an Honorable Mention All-GPAC selection. She was recognized as the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 8.
· The .347 hitting percentage at CSM represented a season high for the Bulldogs. They have attacked at a .300 or better clip in five other outings in 2024: .339 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State, .305 vs. Viterbo, .301 vs. Oklahoma City, .300 at Doane and .300 at Mount Marty. On the season, Concordia is hitting .241, good for 13th best in the NAIA. The Bulldogs rank No. 2 nationally in kills per set (14.26).
· At 11-1 in GPAC play, Concordia remains one game behind No. 1 Northwestern (23-0, 12-0 GPAC) atop the league standings. The rest of the top five in the GPAC includes Midland (9-3), Dordt (7-5) and Hastings (6-5). Since the start of the 2023 season, the Boldts have led the Bulldogs to a combined GPAC regular season record of 25-3. The 2023 team set a new program standard for conference wins in a season while going 14-2 and sharing the GPAC regular season title. Concordia has clinched an above .500 conference record for the sixth straight season. The Bulldogs are also attempting to do something that has never been done by the program since the GPAC went to a 16-match regular season schedule in 2002 – go undefeated in conference road matches. Concordia is 6-0 this season in GPAC road contests with trips to Hastings and Midland left on the docket.
· Concordia’s statistical leaders by category include Ashley Keck in kills (240), Gabi Nordaker in hitting percentage (.358) and blocks (88), Savannah Shelburne in assists (457) and aces (21) and Becca Gebhardt in digs (287). Among GPAC players, Nordaker ranks first in hitting percentage (.358) and second in blocks per set (1.24), Keck ranks third in kills per set (3.38) and Savannah Shelburne ranks fifth in assists per set (6.18).
The opponents
Pegged 10th in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, Mount Marty raced out to a 7-1 start entering GPAC play. Within conference play, the Lancers have earned wins over Doane (four sets), College of Saint Mary (five sets), Dakota Wesleyan (four sets) and Briar Cliff (three sets). Through 23 matches, Mount Marty is hitting .165 with an average of 12.51 kills per set while its opponents are hitting .173 with an average of 11.55 kills per set. Sophia Lobo Paes is in her fourth season as head coach. The ’23 team finished at 10-21 overall (3-13 GPAC). The team’s leading attacker to this point in the 2024 campaign has been junior outside hitter Julia Weber, who is averaging 3.35 kills per set (fourth most in the GPAC). The Lancers graduated their two All-GPAC honorees from a year ago: defensive specialist Ivy Mines and setter Ally Whitmire. Mount Marty will have this Saturday off from game action.
Picked seventh in the GPAC preseason poll, Hastings returned three All-GPAC players to its lineup: outside hitter Majesta Valasek (second team), defensive specialist Miriam Miller (honorable mention) and outside hitter Ilse Benne (honorable mention). Sixth-year Head Coach Alex Allard took the 2022 team to the national tournament. The Broncos enter this week riding a three-match win streak that includes victories over Dakota Wesleyan (five sets), Waldorf (straight sets) and Briar Cliff (straight sets). Back on Oct. 5, Hastings nearly handed Northwestern its first defeat in a five-set decision in Orange City, Iowa. Miller leads the GPAC in digs per set (6.81) and setter Alexis Pontine paces the conference in assists per set (10.47). Through 20 matches, the Broncos are hitting .183 with an average of 13.19 kills per set while their opponents are hitting .175 with an average of 12.22 kills per set. Hastings will be at Doane on Wednesday before hosting Concordia on Saturday.
Next week
Once this week’s action wraps up, the Bulldogs will be down to two remaining matches in the regular season. Concordia will host Doane on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and will then conclude the regular season at Midland on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Bulldogs dominate final three sets in pink-out victory
October 23, 2024
After letting a five-point lead slip away in the opening set, the third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team tightened up the screws and backed up its national ranking. The Bulldogs dominated the final three sets behind a strong blocking performance and defeated Mount Marty, 23-25, 25-17, 25-12, 25-19, inside Friedrich Arena on Wednesday (Oct. 23). Concordia stayed perfect (7-0) in the month of October on an evening it hosted its pink-out match to support breast cancer awareness.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad bumped its mark to 19-2 overall (12-1 GPAC) with three matches remaining in the regular season.
“We started off pretty well and then I thought we got a little complacent in the first set,” Boldt said. “We had a gut check, mental check, and got ourselves where we needed to be. Sometimes you win ugly. We got ourselves to a spot where we were competing, and that’s where we needed to be. We started doing the little things right like making sure we’re disciplined in our base defense and not reaching. We were much better with that after the first set.”
Sweeps are difficult to come by in GPAC play and Mount Marty (12-12, 4-9 GPAC) drove that point home by taking the first set, which concluded a combined block by Caitlin Guenther and Adisyn Indahl. The Lancers shook off deficits of 9-4 and 15-11 in the opening set while hitting .292 with 19 kills. That sort of leaky defensive play was corrected as the Bulldogs once again responded to the challenge.
Mount Marty failed to hit better than .119 in any of the final three sets while dealing with Gabi Nordaker (eight block assists) in the middle and Becca Gebhardt (25 digs) in the back row. On the attack, three Concordia hitters notched double figures in kills: Nordaker (12), Ashley Keck (11) and Kya Scott (11). The Kearney, Neb., native Keck ended in the match on an authoritative kill that pushed her career total to 851 and moved her to 15th on the program’s all-time kills list.
There were also strong contributions made by Ella Waters (seven kills and three blocks), Ava Greene (seven kills, .500 hitting percentage) and Cassidy Knust (14) digs. Keck also added 18 digs while the setters Lily Psencik (22 assists and nine digs) and Savannah Shelburne (27 assists and nine digs) combined for 49 assists on the team’s 56 kills. Lanie Brott also saw action and collected two kills in the fourth set.
The meaning of the pink match is not lost on someone like Concordia senior defensive specialist Cassidy Knust. Said the Aurora, Neb., native, “It hits home for a lot of people. For myself, I have breast cancer in my family. It means a lot in that sense to honor everybody who has survived or has passed away. It’s something special, so we’re glad to do that tonight.”
The Bulldogs have twice beaten Mount Marty in four sets this season. The Lancers were paced on Wednesday by the 14 kills and 19 digs from standout Julia Weber. Mount Marty wound up hitting .077 after the hot first set.
Said Boldt, “I thought that once we started passing and taking care of that first contact, our offense was good and spread out … It was fun to see Lanie Brott get in there at the end of the game. She had two big kills there – she put it away. Ava has been really efficient. She’s doing a great job.
The Bulldogs will be back on the road on Saturday when they have a date with Hastings (13-8, 7-5 GPAC). First serve of the varsity match is set for 4:30 p.m. CT from Lynn Farrell Arena. Concordia has won nine consecutive meetings over the Broncos. In Wednesday’s action, Hastings defeated Doane in straight sets.
Disciplined Bulldogs take care of Hastings in short order
October 26, 2024
Call it a workmanlike effort from the third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team. The Bulldogs remained perfect in the month of October while rolling past Hastings, 25-19, 25-18, 25-17, inside Lynn Farrell Arena on Saturday (Oct. 26). Statistically, Ashley Keck led the way in tallying 12 kills and 17 digs. Concordia played a far cleaner game than the Broncos (with only 10 hitting errors compared to 21 by Hastings).
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad remains one game out of first place in the GPAC standings with two matches remaining in the regular season. The Bulldogs (20-2, 13-1 GPAC) are 7-0 in conference road contests in 2024.
“I think our team was very disciplined,” Boldt said. “It was a match where we needed to stay aggressive, but we also needed to be ourselves. At the beginning, their outside was getting a lot of kills. We had to adjust. Rather than switching things around, we had to be detail-oriented. I think we did a good job with that. I’m really proud of the effort. They stuck together. It was a full team win today.”
Concordia outhit Hastings, .263 to .107, for the match and took command of all three sets. The first one was the tightest and saw the Broncos pull within 19-17 via an ace serve. The Bulldogs then went to Keck for a kill that sparked a 4-0 run. Addie Kirkegaard later put the set away with a kill. Concordia hit .353 in the opening set.
While Keck posted a team high 12 kills, five of her teammates recorded at least four kills, including Kya Scott (eight) and Ella Waters (seven). In addition to an advantage in hitting percentage, the Bulldogs held edges in kills, 41-37, digs, 73-62, and blocks, 10-6. Becca Gebhardt (16) and Cassidy Knust (12) joined Keck in double figures in digs. Meanwhile, Kirkegaard and Ava Greene earned credit for four blocks apiece and the setting duo of Lily Psencik (19 assists) and Savannah Shelburne (18 assists) combined for 37 assists. Shelburne added three aces.
Eventually, Concordia did find a way to slow down Majesta Valasek, but she managed to finish with a match high 15 kills (.192 hitting percentage). The Broncos (13-9, 8-6 GPAC) also got 21 digs from Miriam Miller. The result meant that the Bulldogs extended their series win streak over Hastings to 10.
Said Boldt, “We wanted to be balanced, but we wanted to get the ball to our pins a little more, which we did. We wanted to also find our middles in transition to keep them off balance. We had to work into the match to do that. Ava had a couple good kills and a couple good stuff blocks. It was a full team effort. Hastings is a good team. We had to be our best today. I think we had a good week of practice and we were ready to go.”
The regular season home finale is coming up this Wednesday when the Bulldogs will host Doane (8-18, 3-10 GPAC) for a 7:30 p.m. CT varsity match. Concordia won in straight sets when the two sides met in Crete on Sept. 25. The Bulldogs have triumphed in 12 of the past 13 series matchups.
Doane on tap for visit to Friedrich Arena for regular season home finale
October 28, 2024
The third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team will play in front of the Friedrich Arena faithful for the final time this regular season when action gets underway on Wednesday night. Rival Doane will serve as the opposition as the Bulldogs attempt to keep their perfect October record (8-0) intact. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad enters the week at 20-2 overall (13-1 GPAC) after having earned wins last week over Mount Marty and Hastings. After hosting Doane, Concordia will have the weekend off to gear up for next Tuesday (Nov. 5)’s match at No. 18 Midland.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 30 vs. Doane (8-18, 3-10 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
--Fan theme: Halloween (no masks)
By the numbers
· Concordia checks in at No. 3 in the NAIA national poll entering the week (another poll will be released on Wednesday. The Bulldogs have spent the entirety of this season ranked inside the nation’s top five while following a 2023 season that saw them rise as high as No. 1. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad remains in the hunt for a GPAC title with three matches remaining in the regular season. At 13-1 in league play, Concordia sits one game behind No. 1 Northwestern (25-0, 14-0 GPAC) atop the conference standings. The Red Raiders will finish their regular season by playing at Waldorf before hosting Dordt. Concordia and Northwestern shared the 2023 GPAC regular season title along with Jamestown.
· In last week’s action, the Bulldogs outhit Mount Marty, .247 to .077, and Hastings, .263 to .107. The statistical leaders on the week were Ashley Keck in kills (25), Savannah Shelburne in assists (45) and aces (four), Becca Gebhardt in digs (42) and Gabi Nordaker in blocks (11). The results meant that Concordia earned season sweeps of both the Lancers and Broncos. The Bulldogs have won 10-straight meetings with rival Hastings. On the season, Concordia is 8-1 at home and is 8-0 in true road matches.
· Both Becca Gebhardt and Gabi Nordaker hold down spots within the top five on program all-time lists. Nordaker recently moved up a rung to No. 4 on the program’s all-time kills list with 1,354 (surpassing Paige Getz, 1,331). The Millard West High School alum also sits No. 3 in blocks with 557. Meanwhile, Gebhardt continues to rank fifth in school history for career digs with 1,543. She’s moving closer to No. 4 Jocelyn Garcia (1,594). Additionally, Ashley Keck has run her career kill total to 865, good for 15th most in school history.
· At 13-1 in GPAC play, the 2024 Bulldogs need one more win to equal a program record for conference wins in a season. That standard was set in 2023 by the Concordia squad that went 14-2 and shared the GPAC regular season title. Since the start of the 2022 season, the Boldts have led the program to a combined conference mark of 39-7. The Bulldogs have also enjoyed success in the postseason having reached the GPAC tournament final in three-consecutive years heading into 2024. At 20-2 overall (.909), this ’24 Concordia team is on track to challenge the ’23 team (25-4 record, .862 win percentage) for the highest winning percentage in school history.
· The month of October has been a fruitful one for Concordia, which has won all eight matches while up against conference foes. In October, the Bulldogs have outhit their opponents, .243 to .108, and have outnumbered them in kills, 428-329. Ashley Keck has been the team’s leading attacker in the month with 105 kills and a .246 hitting percentage from the outside. Meanwhile, Gabi Nordaker has accumulated 38 blocks in October.
· Concordia’s statistical leaders by category include Ashley Keck in kills (263), Gabi Nordaker in hitting percentage (.354) and blocks (99), Savannah Shelburne in assists (502) and aces (25) and Becca Gebhardt in digs (328). Bulldogs who rank among the top five of the GPAC in key statistical categories are Keck in kills per set (3.40), Nordaker in blocks per set (1.27) and hitting percentage (.354) and Shelburne in assists per set (6.20).
The opponent
Doane announced RanDee Ochinero as the program’s new head coach in January 2024. Most recently, Ochinero served as an assistant coach at Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) and was part of teams that qualified for the national tournament in 2022 and 2023. The Tigers own league wins over Briar Cliff (three sets), Waldorf (four sets) and Dakota Wesleyan (five sets). This past week, Ochinero’s squad was defeated in straight sets by both Hastings and No. 18 Midland. Doane is in the process of building a foundation coming off an 8-19 (6-10 GPAC) campaign in 2023. The Tigers returned Honorable Mention All-GPAC right side Taylor Sluka. Kayden Schumacher leads the team with 229 kills this season. As a team, Doane is hitting .113 while its opponents are hitting .193. Concordia has won five straight and 12 of the past 13 meetings in the series with the Tigers. The matchup in Crete on Sept. 25 was won by the Bulldogs, 25-16, 25-21, 25-10.
Next week
The regular season will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 5 with a trip to No. 18 Midland. The Bulldogs will then ready themselves for postseason play, which gets started with the GPAC quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 9. Concordia will host a match on that date.
Gebhardt, Shelburne earn GPAC weekly accolades
October 29, 2024
A pair of weekly awards streamed in following another 2-0 week for the third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team. On Tuesday (Oct. 29), the league office recognized senior Becca Gebhardt as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defender of the Week and junior Savannah Shelburne as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Setter of the Week. The Bulldogs have raked in a total of seven GPAC Player of the Week accolades in 2024.
A native of Norfolk, Neb., Gebhardt has picked up her second GPAC Defender of the Week award of the season. As part of last week’s wins over Mount Marty and Hastings, Gebhardt posted respective dig totals of 25 and 17 while also notching a combined 28 serve receptions. Her efforts played a role in Mount Marty hitting .077 and Hastings hitting .107. Gebhardt leads the team this season with 328 digs. Her 1,543 career digs place her at No. 5 on the program’s all-time digs list. Gebhardt is a two-time Honorable Mention All-GPAC selection.
A Gretna High School alum, Shelburne has excelled this season while splitting setter duties with fellow junior Lily Psencik. In last week’s action, Shelburne posted 27 assists versus Mount Marty and 18 at Hastings while adding a combined four aces and 13 digs. Concordia recorded respective hitting percentages of .247 (Mount Marty) and .263 (Hastings). Shelburne ranks fifth among GPAC players with an average of 6.20 assists per set. She has tallied a team high 502 assists on the season.
The Bulldogs (20-2, 13-1 GPAC) will resume action on Wednesday by hosting Doane for their home regular season finale. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena.
2024 GPAC Players of the Week
Oct. 29 – Becca Gebhardt (Defender) / Savannah Shelburne (Setter)
Oct. 8 – Becca Gebhardt (Defender) / Ashley Keck (Attacker)
Sept. 24 – Ashley Keck (Attacker / Defender)
Sept. 17 – Gabi Nordaker (Defender)
Second-ranked Bulldogs stuff Tigers in home regular season finale
October 30, 2024
Halloween or not, Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball is a team to be feared. In the home regular season finale, the second-ranked Bulldogs treated the Friedrich Arena crowd to a snappy victory over rival Doane, 25-20, 25-15, 25-17, on Wednesday (Oct. 30). For the victors, Ashley Keck needed only 27 swings to pile up 14 kills from the outside and Gabi Nordaker stuffed nine Tiger attacks while making it a nightmare for Doane hitters.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad improved to 14-1 in conference play (21-2 overall) heading into the final match of the 2024 regular season. Concordia went 9-0 for the month of October.
“I thought we brought really good energy today,” said senior Becca Gebhardt in a postgame interview with a local TV station. “I was really proud of our team for that. It’s super special (the season we’re having). I’ve been here four years with these people. It’s just awesome to keep winning and keep accomplishing our goals. We’re not done yet.”
The story of the evening was the blocking of the Bulldogs, who flustered Doane into hitting .042 on the evening. In addition to Nordaker getting in on nine blocks (four solos), Addie Kirkegaard was credited with eight blocks and Ava Greene collected six denials. In setting the tone for the night, Nordaker blocks resulted in three of Concordia’s first four points. Fittingly, the evening’s festivities ended when Greene and Kirkegaard rose up to stuff the Tigers for match point.
There were no especially tense moments, although Doane did cling to within 20-18 in the first set and 16-15 in the third set. The best results for the Tigers came in the opening set when they managed 11 kills compared to our attacking errors. Concordia tightened up at the net and held Doane to respective hitting percentages of .026 in the second and -.081 in the third.
Not unlike most outings, the Bulldogs used balance to get it done (while making up for the absence of Ella Waters, who is expected back soon). Following the 14 kills from Keck (.444 hitting percentage), Nordaker posted nine kills, Kya Scott added eight, Kirkegaard supplied six and Greene chipped in with four. The setting duo of Lily Psencik and Savannah Shelburne combined for 36 assists as Concordia out-killed Doane, 42-30. Psencik collected two of the team’s five aces and Gebhardt (16) and Cassidy Knust (10) reached double figures in digs.
In the third set, Lanie Brott joined the fun with a thunderous kill. As a team, Concordia hit .236 while taking care of Doane (8-19, 3-11 GPAC) for the 13th time in the past 14 series meetings. The Tigers got a team best nine kills from Kayden Schumacher. Doane will finish up its season by taking on College of Saint Mary and Mount Marty.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs remain one game behind No. 1 Northwestern atop the GPAC standings. Concordia will focus on taking care of its own business. Said Shelburne, “I think the seniors have done a really good job leading this team. Like Becca said, we’re not done yet. Our word this year is ‘grit,’ and I think our team has done a really good job embodying that word.”
The Bulldogs will take this weekend off before closing the regular season next Tuesday (Nov. 5) at No. 22 Midland (16-9, 12-3 GPAC). The two sides met in Seward on Sept. 14 with the result being a four-set Concordia win. The Bulldogs also wrapped up the 2023 regular season with a victory in Fremont.
Regular season to conclude with matchup of rivals in Fremont
November 3, 2024
The 2024 regular season will conclude on Tuesday when the second-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team pays a visit to No. 22 Midland. The Bulldogs will enter the matchup with a chance at sharing the GPAC regular season title for the second-straight year. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad stands at 21-2 overall (14-1 GPAC) after having taken this weekend off from competition. In the lone outing of last week, Concordia quickly dispatched of Doane, 25-20, 25-15, 25-17.
This Week
Tuesday, Nov. 5 at No. 22 Midland (16-9, 12-3 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Wikert Events Center (Fremont, Neb.)
GPAC Quarterfinals – Saturday, Nov. 9 vs. TBA, 5 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· In the sixth NAIA coaches’ poll released in 2024, the Bulldogs moved up a spot to No. 2, marking their highest ranking of the season. Concordia began this season at No. 4 and has remained inside the top five for the entirety of the fall. Meanwhile, GPAC rival Northwestern continues to hold down the NAIA’s No. 1 ranking. The Red Raiders (26-0, 15-0 GPAC) are one win away from winning the GPAC regular season title outright and from polishing off an unbeaten regular season. No matter the results on Tuesday, Northwestern will be the No. 1 seed and Concordia will be the No. 2 seed for the GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs and Red Raiders shared the 2023 GPAC regular season championship along with former conference member Jamestown.
· Concordia has won 13 of the past 14 meetings with Doane and swept the 2024 regular season series. In the latest get together, the Bulldogs stuffed the Tigers with 15 blocks and limited the opposition to an .042 hitting percentage. Six blocks or more were credited to Gabi Nordaker (nine), Addie Kirkegaard (eight) and Ava Greene (six). In addition, Ashley Keck continued her strong season by tallying 14 kills (.444) and 16 digs. Nordaker also added nine kills and Kya Scott supplied eight. The setter duo of Lily Psencik (two aces) and Savannah Shelburne combined for 36 assists. Becca Gebhardt chipped in 16 digs in the back row.
· In the month of October, the Bulldogs went an unblemished 9-0 while up against GPAC opponents in each outing. During the month, Concordia outhit its opponents, .243 to .102, and outnumbered them in kills, 470-359. The closest call came on Oct. 19 at Dordt when the Bulldogs escaped Sioux Center with a victory in five sets. Individually, it was a particularly impressive month for Keck, who collected 119 kills (3.84 per set) and 137 digs (4.42 per set). In the middle, Nordaker hit .406 and averaged 1.52 blocks per set. In addition, October saw Concordia win five times on the road and four times at home. The Bulldogs are 7-0 in GPAC road matches.
· A trio of Concordia players have placed themselves in elite company when it comes the program’s all-time statistical lists (as displayed below). Nordaker ranks top five in school history for blocks and kills while Gebhardt cracked the top five for digs earlier this season. In addition, Keck has moved to No. 15 on the program’s all-time kills list with 879. The program all-time leaders by category are Becky Ernstmeyer in kills (1,740) and digs (2,235) and Katie Werner in blocks (787).
o Gabi Nordaker – third all-time in blocks (566); fourth all-time in kills (1,363).
o Becca Gebhardt – fifth all-time in digs (1,559).
o Ashley Keck – 15th all-time in kills (879).
· Under the Boldts, Concordia has firmly established itself as a GPAC and NAIA power. The Bulldogs broke down a barrier in 2023 when they earned a piece of the conference regular season title. Since the start of the 2022 season, Concordia has posted a combined league mark of 40-7. Counting 2024, the Boldts will earn a top-three GPAC finish for the fifth time in seven years at the helm of the program. Once the postseason starts, the Bulldogs will be attempting to extend their string of three-consecutive GPAC tournament championship match appearances. Concordia has gone on to reach the NAIA national quarterfinals twice (2020 and 2021).
· Concordia and Midland are extremely familiar foes. The two programs met three times apiece in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons. The results have been competitive with the Bulldogs and Warriors having split their past 10 series meetings (see below). Three of those matchups have come in the postseason, including one in NAIA pool play and two in the GPAC tournament. Concordia won this season’s first meeting, which concluded in four sets in Seward. In that victory, Ashley Keck, Addie Kirkegaard and Ella Waters recorded 11 kills apiece and the Bulldogs outhit Midland, .219 to .146.
o 9/14/24 – Concordia, 3-1 (Seward).
o 12/1/23 – Midland, 3-0 (NAIA pool play – Sioux City).
o 10/31/23 – Concordia, 3-1 (Fremont).
o 9/6/23 – Concordia, 3-0 (Seward).
o 11/9/22 – Concordia, 3-2 (GPAC semifinals – Fremont).
o 11/1/22 – Midland, 3-0 (Seward).
o 9/7/22 – Midland, 3-2 (Fremont).
o 11/6/21 – Concordia, 3-0 (GPAC quarterfinals – Fremont).
o 9/29/21 – Midland, 3-2 (Fremont).
o 9/8/21 – Midland, 3-0 (Seward).
The opponent
Midland has hovered around 20th in the NAIA coaches’ poll (currently No. 22) since appearing at No. 6 in the preseason. The Warriors played a rigorous nonconference schedule and came away with a win over a Viterbo University (Wis.) team currently ranked 13th in the NAIA. From last season’s team that reached the NAIA quarterfinals, Midland welcomed back three All-GPAC players, including first team middle blocker Abbey Ringler and second team right side Jacki Apel. Now in his 15th season as head coach, Paul Giesselmann entered this season with a record of 333-128 at Midland. The perennially strong Warrior program reached the national semifinals in 2016, 2018 and 2022 and played in the national title match in 2020. Midland finished last season at 18-12 overall (10-6 GPAC). The Warriors will be the GPAC’s No. 3 seed when the conference tournament gets underway on Saturday.
GPAC Tournament
Concordia will host a GPAC tournament quarterfinal match at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday against an opponent to be determined. The eight-team GPAC tournament bracket will be announced by the league office once all regular season matches have gone final on Tuesday night.
Bulldogs respond to deficit at No. 22 Midland, finish with 15-1 GPAC mark
November 5, 2024
While hosting its senior day, No. 22 Midland may have felt like it had them, but it didn’t. The second-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team shrugged off a defeat in the opening set and a 4-0 disadvantage in the second set while taking down the rival Warriors, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19, in Fremont, Neb., on Tuesday (Nov. 5). The Bulldogs accumulated 17 blocks and got a match high 17 kills from Ashley Keck.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has polished off the 2024 regular season at 22-2 overall (15-1 GPAC). Concordia wound up 8-0 in GPAC road matches and placed second in the league behind undefeated and top-ranked Northwestern (27-0, 16-0 GPAC).
“The first set, we got stuck in a rotation, and that stuff can happen,” Boldt said. “In the second set, we were down 4-0. It was a matter of having a competitive mindset. I was really proud of our team after that run in the second set. Our mindset switched and we really went after it.”
Throughout the 2024 regular season, the Bulldogs have proven gritty and unflappable. In Tuesday’s clash, Concordia eventually turned the tide after staring down an 18-14 deficit in the second set. Ella Waters helped spark the rally with a kill and Addie Kirkegaard eventually put set No. 1 away with a kill of her own. That momentum led into the Bulldogs’ best offensive set of the evening as they hit .333 with 17 kills in the third.
In the middle, Nordaker and Ava Greene are a dynamic blocking duo. Both standouts came away with eight blocks while helping limit Midland to .112 hitting overall. Six of Concordia’s 17 blocks came in the fourth set. Not only did the Bulldogs enjoy an advantage in blocking (17-12), they also had the better of the Warriors in kills, 53-49, digs, 76-67, and hitting percentage, .192 to .112.
The All-America candidate Keck added 10 digs and four blocks to her stat line. Kya Scott joined her double figures in kills with 12 while Waters finished with nine kills and six blocks. Savannah Shelburne landed three aces, including one for match point. Shelburne (21 assists) and Lily Psencik (23 assists) combined for 44 assists. Becca Gebhardt paced the back row with 13 digs.
The 15th GPAC win of 2024 marked a program record for most conference victories in a single season, surpassing the 14 totaled by the 2023 squad. The only blemish on the league record came in five sets against a Red Raider opponent the Bulldogs just might see in the postseason. One thing is for certain, Concordia is no easy out.
Said Boldt, “They’re a tough team to beat. We’re pretty even all the way across the board. If someone is not having their best night, someone else steps up, and we’re gritty when it comes to our play at the net and in the back row. We ended up with 17 blocks and really turned it up at the net.”
Midland (16-10, 12-4 GPAC) will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming GPAC tournament. The Warriors got a team high 13 kills from Brooklynn Snyder while middle Abbey Ringler notched 10 kills (and eight blocks) on .429 hitting. Concordia won both regular season meetings over Midland.
In the quarterfinal round of the GPAC tournament on Saturday, the second-seeded Bulldogs will welcome seventh-seeded Dakota Wesleyan (13-15, 7-9 GPAC) to Friedrich Arena for a 5 p.m. CT matchup. The winner will advance to play in the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 13 against either third-seeded Midland or sixth-seeded Dordt. Concordia will carry a 10-match winning streak into the postseason.
2024 GPAC volleyball quarterfinal preview: Concordia vs. DWU
November 6, 2024
The 2024 regular season wrapped up on Tuesday night with the second-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team taking care of No. 22 Midland in four sets. Regardless of that outcome, the Bulldogs had already locked up the No. 2 seed in the GPAC tournament. The postseason will begin on Saturday with the conference quarterfinal round, which will put Concordia up against seventh-seeded Dakota Wesleyan. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s program will host in the quarterfinals for the fifth time in six years.
GPAC Quarterfinals
Saturday, Nov. 9 vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 13-15, 7-9 GPAC, 5 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s are admitted free of charge.
By the numbers
· There was no margin for error this season in the race for a GPAC regular season title. Northwestern (27-0, 16-0 GPAC) finished one game ahead of Concordia (22-2, 15-1 GPAC) at the top of the league standings. The Red Raiders were dominant in winning 13 of 16 GPAC regular season matches in straight sets. Ultimately, the regular season title came down to the Concordia-Northwestern matchup in Seward on Sept. 28. The Red Raiders managed to outlast the Bulldogs, 25-17, 16-25, 16-25, 25-15, 15-12. Entering the postseason, Northwestern and Concordia hold down the Nos. 1 and 2 spots, respectively, in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Under the direction of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have posted respective GPAC regular season place finishes of seventh, third, third, fifth, third, first and second over their seven years. The 15 GPAC wins recorded by the 2024 team have set a new program record for conference victories in a single season. The previous standard was 14 by the ’23 team that shared the GPAC regular season title with Jamestown and Northwestern. In another first for the program, the 2024 Bulldogs went a perfect 8-0 in conference road matches. No Concordia Volleyball team has gone undefeated in GPAC road contests since the conference went to a 16-match regular season slate. Over seven seasons, the Boldts have led the Bulldogs to a combined conference mark of 78-33.
· Concordia put another quality win on the resume on Tuesday by defeating No. 22 Midland (16-10, 12-4 GPAC) in Fremont. The Bulldogs dropped the first set before proceeding to win, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19, behind advantages of .192 to .112 in hitting percentage, 53-49 in kills, 17-12 in blocks and 76-67 in digs. Standout outside hitter Ashley Keck led all players with 17 kills (.295) to go along with her 10 digs and four blocks. Meanwhile, Ava Greene and Gabi Nordaker were credited with eight blocks apiece. Additionally, Savannah Shelburne contributed three aces and Becca Gebhardt paced the back row with 13 digs. Concordia has won each of the past four regular season meetings with Midland.
· Entering this year’s postseason, the Bulldogs have reached at least the semifinal round of the GPAC tournament in five straight seasons. That stretch includes GPAC tournament runner up claims in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In each of those GPAC tournament finals, Concordia went on the road (defeated by Jamestown in 2021 and 2022 and Northwestern in 2023). Additionally, the Bulldogs have qualified for the conference tournament for the 19th straight season. They reached the GPAC tournament final for the first time in program history in 2015 when they were the runner up to Midland. Concordia was also a conference tournament runner up back in 1996.
· At the close of the regular season, the Bulldogs leaders by category are Ashley Keck in kills (294), Gabi Nordaker in hitting percentage (.352) and blocks (116), Savannah Shelburne in assists (540) and aces (29) and Becca Gebhardt in digs (357). In addition to Keck, there are four Concordia players with more than 150 kills on the season: Ella Waters (228), Nordaker (207), Addie Kirkegaard (191) and Kya Scott (163). Nordaker continues to rank among the program’s top five all-time for career blocks (574) and kills (1,367) while Gebhardt ranks No. 5 in school history or career digs (1,572). Keck (896 career kills) is four kills shy of 900 for her career.
· Heading into the postseason, the Bulldogs sports GPAC team rankings of first in kills per set (14.19), second in hitting percentage (.240), third in digs per set (18.15), third in blocks per set (2.34) and ninth in aces per set (1.24). On the individual conference leaderboards, Keck ranks third in kills per set (3.48) and Nordaker ranks second in blocks per set (1.36). Nationally, Concordia ranks fourth in kills per set and tied for 12th in hitting percentage.
The opponent
Dakota Wesleyan enters the GPAC tournament at 13-15 overall (7-9 GPAC) after finishing 2023 at 19-15 overall (8-8 GPAC). The Tigers enjoyed a major breakthrough in 2021 and 2022 when they won 25 matches both seasons and finished both campaigns at the national tournament. DWU graduated All-American middle blocker Ady Dwight from the 2023 team but did return Second Team All-GPAC setter Kayleigh Hybertson, who ranks third among GPAC setters for assists per set (8.59). In the back row, Elizabeth Tyler ranks second in the GPAC with 5.90 assists per set. As a team, the Tigers sport GPAC rankings of second in digs per set (19.15), fifth in blocks per set (2.00), seventh in aces per set (1.28), eighth in hitting percentage (.161) and ninth in kills per set (11.58). Lindsay Wilber is in her 11th season as head coach at DWU and is the program’s all-time winningest coach. The Bulldogs and Tigers met in Mitchell, S.D., on Oct. 5 with the result being a Concordia win in four sets.
2024 GPAC Tournament
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Nov. 9
(8) College of Saint Mary at (1) Northwestern, 7:30 p.m.
(5) Hastings at (4) Morningside, 7 p.m.
(6) Dordt at (3) Midland, 7 p.m.
(7) Dakota Wesleyan at (2) Concordia, 5 p.m.
Semifinals – Wednesday, Nov. 13
1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner, 7 p.m.
2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, 7 p.m.
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 16
Highest seed hosts, time TBA
Postseason run opens with GPAC quarterfinal sweep of DWU
November 9, 2024
Other than a shaky start to the third set, the second-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team handled its business in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs sent seventh-seeded Dakota Wesleyan packing, 25-23, 25-13, 25-19, while limiting the visitors from Mitchell, S.D., to a .126 hitting percentage. The combination of Ashley Keck (29 digs) and Becca Gebhardt (19 digs) cleaned up in the back row on Saturday (Nov. 9).
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad will carry a 23-2 overall record into the GPAC semifinals. Concordia has reached at least the conference semis for the sixth-straight season.
“We got on our team there in the third set when we got down 6-1,” Boldt said. “We can’t just assume that we step out on the floor and we’re going to win. We have to go make things happen. We have to compete. How we respond to something that doesn’t go great – that’s what postseason is all about. Being gritty is our motto this year. I think we did a great job of being gritty when we were down and got ourselves in a great spot to compete.”
To the Tigers’ credit, they made the Bulldogs sweat out the opening set. It was even at 22-22 after an ace from Abigail Zegar. Gabi Nordaker followed with a kill and Ella Waters put it on ice with kills for point Nos. 24 and 25 of the set. Dakota Wesleyan enjoyed its best attacking effort of the night in that opening set, going for 15 kills compared to six hitting errors during that stretch. Concordia seized on the missed opportunity and ran away with the second set (17 kills and only three errors).
In the final set, DWU raced out to the aforementioned 6-1 lead and seemingly had shaken off the Bulldog push while leading 16-14 late in the set. However, Concordia won the next five points and never looked back. Match point came on Kya Scott’s 10th kill of the night. Moments later, Ashlyn Wischmeier did the honors of ringing the bell in the aftermath of the Bulldogs moving to 10-1 at home this season.
The Tigers attempted to throw Concordia off its game with their service tactics. Said Boldt, “They served us short a lot. We have to come in front of the 10-foot line to pass the ball, which takes away some of our approach. In those cases, other people have to make themselves available to attack. It was a little strategy on their part, and we have to communicate in those circumstances. When teams give you different looks, we have to keep working through that. We had to make some adjustments and just go make plays.”
Waters and Scott tied for a match high with 10 kills apiece. Another four Bulldogs recorded at least six kills: Gabi Nordaker (eight), Keck (seven), Addie Kirkegaard (six) and Ava Greene (six). Nordaker added four blocks to her stat line while the setter combo of Lily Psencik and Savannah Shelburne combined for 44 assists. Gebhardt landed a pair of aces and was strong in serve receive. As a team, Concordia owned advantages of .225 to .126 in hitting percentage, 49-33 in kills and 77-64 in digs. DWU ends its season at 13-16 overall.
Now riding an 11-match win streak, the Bulldogs are a confident bunch. Said Psencik, “All the GPAC teams are good. It’s a really hard conference to play in, so we just take it one match at a time … Our focus going into it is to stay gritty while also having fun on the court. Knowing that we have trust in each other gives us confidence.”
The Bulldogs will be back at home on Wednesday for the GPAC semifinal round. No. 22 Midland (17-10) stands in the way of Concordia’s attempt to reach the GPAC tournament title match for a fourth-straight season. First serve on Wednesday is slated for 7 p.m. CT. During the regular season, the Bulldogs won both meetings with the Warriors.
2024 GPAC volleyball semifinal preview: Concordia vs. Midland
November 10, 2024
For a sixth-straight year, Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball has reached the GPAC tournament semifinals. The Bulldogs cruised past Dakota Wesleyan in the quarterfinals this past weekend and will welcome No. 22 Midland to Friedrich Arena for the semifinals on Wednesday. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has moved to 23-2 overall while in pursuit of the program’s first-ever GPAC postseason championship. The Concordia-Midland winner will play in the title match on Saturday against the Northwestern-Hastings winner.
GPAC Tournament
Semifinals – Wednesday, Nov. 13 vs. No. 22 Midland (17-10, 12-4 GPAC), 7 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s are admitted free of charge.
--Fan theme: whiteout
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 16 vs. Northwestern / Hastings, time TBA (if win on Wednesday)
By the numbers
· The quarterfinals of the 2024 GPAC tournament went mostly chalk, with the exception of a minor upset in Sioux City, Iowa, where fifth-seeded Hastings defeated fourth-seeded Morningside in four sets. Elsewhere, top-ranked Northwestern held serve in four sets over eight seed College of Saint Mary, No. 2 Concordia took care of seventh-seeded Dakota Wesleyan in straight sets and third-seeded Midland wiped out six seed Dordt in three. In top attacking performances from the opening round, Hastings’ Majesta Valasek put away 20 kills on .465 hitting and Northwestern’s Jazlin Douma posted 18 kills on .385 hitting.
· The Bulldogs have won six-straight GPAC quarterfinal matches dating back to the 2019 season. The latest one came by a score of 25-23, 25-13, 25-19, over Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia owned advantages of .225 to .126 in hitting percentage, 49-33 in kills and 77-64 in digs. Kya Scott and Ella Waters recorded a match high 10 kills apiece and Ashley Keck (29 digs) and Becca Gebhardt (19 digs) cleaned up in the back row. The Bulldogs were especially dominant in the second set when they hit .333 and landed 17 kills. DWU (13-16 final record) jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third set before Concordia rallied back and regained control.
· Entering this year’s postseason, the Bulldogs had reached at least the semifinal round of the GPAC tournament in five straight seasons. That stretch includes GPAC tournament runner up claims in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In each of those GPAC tournament finals, Concordia went on the road (defeated by Jamestown in 2021 and 2022 and by Northwestern in 2023). Additionally, the Bulldogs have qualified for the conference tournament for the 19th straight season. They reached the GPAC tournament final for the first time in program history in 2015 when they were the runner up to Midland. Concordia was also a conference tournament runner up back in 1996 (prior to the formation of the GPAC).
· A stellar season continues for the Kearney native Keck, who has gone past 300 kills for the second year in a row. She also surpassed 900 career kills (903) as part of the win over Dakota Wesleyan. She has moved up to No. 14 on the program’s all-time kills list. While Keck is the team leader in kills (303) this season, the team’s other statistical leaders include Gabi Nordaker in hitting percentage (.354) and blocks (120), Savannah Shelburne in assists (565) and aces (30) and Becca Gebhardt in digs (376). In addition to Keck, there are four Concordia players with more than 170 kills on the season: Ella Waters (238), Nordaker (215), Addie Kirkegaard (197) and Kya Scott (173). Nordaker continues to rank among the program’s top five all-time for career blocks (578) and kills (1,375) while Gebhardt ranks No. 5 in school history or career digs (1,591). Four more digs will move Gebhardt past Jocelyn Garcia (1,594) for No. 4 on the list.
· Under the direction of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have posted respective GPAC regular season place finishes of seventh, third, third, fifth, third, first and second over their seven years. The 15 GPAC wins recorded by the 2024 team have set a new program record for conference victories in a single season. The previous standard was 14 by the ’23 team that shared the GPAC regular season title with Jamestown and Northwestern. In another first for the program, the 2024 Bulldogs went a perfect 8-0 in conference road matches. No other Concordia Volleyball team has gone undefeated in GPAC road contests since the conference went to a 16-match regular season slate. Over seven seasons, the Boldts have led the Bulldogs to a combined conference mark of 78-33.
· Heading into the semifinals, the Bulldogs sports GPAC team rankings of first in kills per set (14.19), second in hitting percentage (.239), third in digs per set (18.40), third in blocks per set (2.35) and 10th in aces per set (1.23). On the individual conference leaderboards, Keck ranks third in kills per set (3.44) and Nordaker ranks second in blocks per set (1.36). Nationally, Concordia ranks third in kills per set and tied for 13th in hitting percentage.
The opponent
The Bulldogs and Warriors will meet again after the two sides got together in Fremont for the regular season finale on Nov. 5. Concordia won that meeting in four sets, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19. The Bulldogs have won each of the last four regular season matchups. Sandwiched in the middle of those meetings was a Midland victory that occurred at the final site of the national tournament. Ranked 22nd in the NAIA, the Warriors moved to the semifinals with a quarterfinal win over Dordt. Now in his 15th season as head coach, Paul Giesselmann entered this season with a record of 333-128 at Midland. The perennially strong Warrior program reached the national semifinals in 2016, 2018 and 2022 and played in the national title match in 2020. In 2024, Midland owns GPAC rankings of second in blocks per set (2.49), sixth in hitting percentage (.168), seventh in kills per set (12.36), seventh in aces per set (1.31) and eighth in digs per set (16.89). Middle Blocker Abbey Ringler is a returning First Team All-GPAC award winner.
2024 GPAC Tournament
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Nov. 9
(1) Northwestern def. (8) College of Saint Mary, 3-1
(5) Hastings def. (4) Morningside, 3-1
(3) Midland def. (6) Dordt, 3-0
(2) Concordia def. (7) Dakota Wesleyan, 3-0
Semifinals – Wednesday, Nov. 13
(5) Hastings at (1) Northwestern, 7 p.m.
(3) Midland at (2) Concordia, 7 p.m.
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 16
Highest seed hosts, time TBA
Keck, Shelburne tabbed GPAC weekly award winners
November 12, 2024
In the aftermath of two more victories for the second-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team, two Bulldogs have picked up GPAC weekly awards. On Tuesday (Nov. 12), the league office recognized junior Ashley Keck as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defender of the Week and junior Savannah Shelburne as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Setter of the Week. As a team, Concordia Volleyball has earned nine total GPAC Player of the Week awards in 2024, including four by Keck.
A Kearney, Neb., native and Kearney Catholic High School alum, Keck contributed in all areas last week as the Bulldogs defeated No. 22 Midland to end the regular season and then cruised past Dakota Wesleyan in the GPAC quarterfinals. In those two outings, Keck totaled a combined 39 digs, 48 service receptions and six blocks. Keck and company limited Midland to a .112 hitting percentage and Dakota Wesleyan to a .126 hitting percentage. On the season, Keck has amassed 303 kills and 336 digs while hitting .244 from the outside. She ranks 14th on the program’s all-time kills list with 903 in 84 matches as a Bulldog.
Shelburne has now been named the GPAC Setter of the Week for the second time in three weeks. The Omaha native and Gretna High School product posted a combined 46 assists, 14 digs and four aces in Concordia’s two wins last week. She teamed up with fellow setter Lily Psencik on directing an offense that outnumbered opponents in kills, 102-82. On the season, Shelburne has tallied 565 assists for an average of 6.21 assists per set. The Bulldogs currently rank 13th nationally in hitting percentage (.239).
Concordia (23-2) is getting set to host Midland (17-10) in the GPAC semifinals at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday. The winner will advance to play in the championship match on Saturday.
2024 GPAC Players of the Week
Nov. 12 – Ashley Keck (Defender) / Savannah Shelburne (Setter)
Oct. 29 – Becca Gebhardt (Defender) / Savannah Shelburne (Setter)
Oct. 8 – Becca Gebhardt (Defender) / Ashley Keck (Attacker)
Sept. 24 – Ashley Keck (Attacker / Defender)
Sept. 17 – Gabi Nordaker (Defender)
Razor sharp Dawgs put it all together in semifinal smashing, advance to GPAC title match
November 13, 2024
Sharp and focused, the Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team looked every bit like the No. 2-ranked team in the NAIA on Wednesday (Nov. 13). For the fourth-straight season, the Bulldogs are moving on to the GPAC tournament championship match after ringing No. 20 Midland’s bell, 25-17, 25-20, 25-14, inside Friedrich Arena. The two rivals met for the second time in nine days in a conference semifinal matchup harboring few secrets between familiar foes.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad (seeded second in the GPAC) also cut through seventh-seeded Dakota Wesleyan as part of the 2024 postseason run. Concordia will carry a 24-2 overall record into the GPAC final at No. 1 Northwestern.
“I told the team, I thought that was one of the most complete games that we’ve played all year,” Boldt said. “Before the match started, we talked about a theme from the beginning of the year: defense. Defense wins championships. We held them to .083 hitting and really out-dug them. I thought we funneled them with our block to where our diggers were, and we capitalized by putting the ball away.”
Afterwards, star junior outside hitter Ashley Keck struggled to think of what the team could have done much better, although the Boldts will likely find something on the film. But that will only be knit-picking from a match that saw the Bulldogs take control of all three sets. Concordia raced out to leads of 7-2 in the first set, 12-6 in the second set and 12-4 in the third set while making the Warriors play catch up all night.
Not a single Midland attacker had more than six kills for the evening and the Warriors failed to hit better than .132 in any single set. Becca Gebhardt served as a thorn in their side with 19 digs while Keck posted 11 digs. Gabi Nordaker led the way with three blocks and three teammates collected two apiece as part of a sterling overall defensive effort. It was one Concordia would like to bottle up and pack with it on the road this Saturday.
Said Keck of advancing to another GPAC title match, “It’s really satisfying. It’s a team effort. It’s really nice to sweep Midland after they took a set from us the last time we played them. Just playing solid, all together, composed and free is really what got us to this place.”
Keck paced a balanced attack with nine kills. Nordaker and Kya Scott followed with eight kills apiece and Ella Waters added seven. Lily Psencik posted 20 assists, seven digs and an ace and Savannah Shelburne notched 16 assists, seven digs and an ace. As a team, the Bulldogs owned advantages of 43-27 in kills, .232 to .083 in hitting percentage, 65-50 in digs, and 5-1 in aces.
Said Boldt, “We had all six of our attackers pretty even (in kills). Again, great job by our defense. Becca dug a lot of balls tonight, and I thought Ashley did a good job with that as well … We’ve been wanting another shot to play them (Northwestern). I think that we’ve earned it. We have to go out there and play well and see where it goes.”
Midland (17-11) will look forward to playing at the national tournament once again. The Warriors were tripped up in all three of this season’s meetings with Concordia. Seward High School product Abbey Ringler came away with five kills and four blocks on Wednesday.
For the second year in a row, the Bulldogs will be headed to Orange City, Iowa, for the GPAC tournament championship match. First serve from the Bultman Center is set for 7 p.m. CT in what will be a matchup between the NAIA’s Nos. 1 and 2 teams in this week’s coaches’ poll. The postseason path for the GPAC regular season champion Red Raiders (29-0) has included wins over College of Saint Mary and Hastings. In the lone meeting this regular season, Northwestern outlasted Concordia in five sets in Seward.
2024 GPAC volleyball championship preview: No. 2 Concordia at No. 1 Northwestern
November 14, 2024
The top two seeds in the GPAC tournament held serve at home in the conference semifinals on Wednesday night, setting up a showdown between the second-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team and top-ranked Northwestern. The Bulldogs (24-2) put together perhaps their finest performance of the season on Wednesday in vanquishing third-seeded and 20th-ranked Midland, 25-17, 25-20, 25-14. That victory means that Head Coach Ben Boldt’s program has reached the conference tournament championship match for the fourth-straight year. This will be the second year in a row that Concordia will play at Northwestern in the GPAC final.
GPAC Tournament
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 16 at No. 1 Northwestern (29-0, 16-0 GPAC), 7 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bultman Center (Orange City, Iowa)
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s are admitted free of charge.
By the numbers
· The GPAC tournament has gone according to seeding with the lone exception of fifth-seeded Hastings winning at fourth-seeded Morningside in the quarterfinals. Concordia has made its way to the championship match with straight-sets home wins over Dakota Wesleyan and No. 20 Midland. On the other side of the bracket, No. 1 Northwestern defeated College of Saint Mary in four sets and Hastings in three. In terms of national tournament qualification, the Red Raiders have clinched a bid as the GPAC regular season champion while Concordia is a lock, Midland is a virtual lock and Morningside is a potential at-large team. Official national qualifiers will be announced by the NAIA at 12 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 18.
· In the third meeting this season between the two rivals, the Bulldogs exerted their dominance over Midland in the GPAC semifinals. Concordia owned advantages of .232 to .083 in hitting percentage, 43-27 in kills and 65-50 in digs and jumped out to significant leads in all three sets. It was a particularly fine night for the Bulldog back row as Becca Gebhardt totaled 19 digs and Ashley Keck added 11. Offensively, six Concordia attackers notched at least four kills, led by nine from Keck and eight apiece from Gabi Nordaker and Kya Scott. The Bulldogs have now won six of the past seven meetings with Midland.
· Gebhardt and Keck have continued their ascension up the program’s all-time lists. With her 19 digs versus Midland, Gebhardt leapfrogged Jocelyn Garcia (1,594) for fourth place on the career digs list with 1,610. Meanwhile, Keck moved up another rung on the kills list to 13th with 912 kills. Keck recently passed the likes of Amanda Kisker (906) and Jaelle Rodenbeck (902). In addition, All-American Gabi Nordaker continues hold down program all-time rankings of third in blocks (581) and fourth in kills (1,384).
· Boldt will lead his team up against a No. 1-ranked opponent for the third time this season. Back on Aug. 24, Concordia edged defending national champion and then top-rated Indiana Wesleyan in five sets in a match that took place in Columbia, Mo. The Bulldogs also played a five-set home match with No. 1 Northwestern on Sept. 28. The Red Raiders came out on top, winning by a score of 15-12 in the fifth set. Northwestern was also sitting at No. 1 in the NAIA when the Bulldogs traveled to Orange City for last year’s GPAC tournament title match. Northwestern prevailed in five sets. Four of the past five Concordia-Northwestern matches have gone to five sets with the Bulldogs winning two of those contests.
· Entering this year’s postseason, the Bulldogs had reached at least the semifinal round of the GPAC tournament in five straight seasons. That stretch includes GPAC tournament runner up claims in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In each of those GPAC tournament finals, Concordia went on the road (defeated by Jamestown in 2021 and 2022 and by Northwestern in 2023). Additionally, the Bulldogs have qualified for the conference tournament for the 19th straight season. They reached the GPAC tournament final for the first time in program history in 2015 when they were the runner up to Midland. Concordia was also a conference tournament runner up back in 1996 (prior to the formation of the GPAC).
· Under the direction of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have posted respective GPAC regular season place finishes of seventh, third, third, fifth, third, first and second over their seven years. The 15 GPAC wins recorded by the 2024 team have set a new program record for conference victories in a single season. The previous standard was 14 by the ’23 team that shared the GPAC regular season title with Jamestown and Northwestern. In another first for the program, the 2024 Bulldogs went a perfect 8-0 in conference road matches. No other Concordia Volleyball team has gone undefeated in GPAC road contests since the conference went to a 16-match regular season slate. Over seven seasons, the Boldts have led the Bulldogs to a combined conference mark of 78-33.
· Heading into the championship match, the Bulldogs sports GPAC team rankings of first in kills per set (14.27), second in hitting percentage (.239), third in digs per set (18.50), third in blocks per set (2.35) and 10th in aces per set (1.24). On the individual conference leaderboards, Keck ranks third in kills per set (3.43) and Nordaker ranks second in blocks per set (1.35). Nationally, Concordia ranks third in kills per set and tied for 13th in hitting percentage.
The opponent
Northwestern will attempt to stay unbeaten and claim GPAC tournament titles in back-to-back years. The Red Raiders have been a perennially high achieving team under Head Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch, who is in his 20th season. Van Den Bosch led Northwestern to a national runner up finish in 2023 as part of a tenure that includes 14 national tournament appearances and a combined 13 GPAC championships (entering 2024). Northwestern boasts the reigning GPAC Player of the Year in Jazlin Douma, who paces the GPAC with an average of 4.32 kills per set. Douma pairs with Alysen Dexter on a lethal pin hitter combo. The Red Raiders also trot out the GPAC’s leading blocker in Zavyr Metger (1.89 blocks per set). Among GPAC squads, Northwestern ranks first in blocks per set (3.34), first in hitting percentage (.268), second in kills per set (13.33), third in aces per set (1.56) and 10th in digs per set (16.11). The Red Raiders own a 19-match home win streak dating back to a five-set loss to College of Saint Mary on Sept. 29, 2023.
2024 GPAC Tournament
Quarterfinals – Saturday, Nov. 9
(1) Northwestern def. (8) College of Saint Mary, 3-1
(5) Hastings def. (4) Morningside, 3-1
(3) Midland def. (6) Dordt, 3-0
(2) Concordia def. (7) Dakota Wesleyan, 3-0
Semifinals – Wednesday, Nov. 13
(1) Northwestern def. (5) Hastings, 3-0
(2) Concordia def. (3) Midland, 3-0
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 16
(2) Concordia at (1) Northwestern, 7 p.m.
Gritty Bulldogs edged in five sets in GPAC title showdown of No. 1 vs. No. 2
November 16, 2024
It was the only way. The GPAC Championship Match showdown between the second-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team and No. 1 Northwestern just had to come down to a fifth set. Ultimately, it was Jazlin Douma and the Red Raiders who celebrated a second-straight GPAC tournament championship inside the Bultman Center in Orange City, Iowa, on Saturday (Nov. 16). Playing in front of a sea of red, Northwestern shook off a two-sets-to-one deficit and won, 19-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-17, 15-11.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad entered the day already knowing it will be one of the top seeds in the 2024 NAIA National Championship tournament. However, the Bulldogs (24-3) hoped to add a GPAC championship trophy to the list of 2024 accomplishments.
“We competed really well,” Boldt said. “Down the stretch there, there were just a couple of times when we couldn’t get our offense going. They made a couple of runs we couldn’t recover from. Every single point, I can tell you our team believed they were going to win that point. We keep talking about having joy when we play and before the next rally starts, we get back to our competitive mindset. I thought we did a good job throughout the match of competing. We didn’t quite get it this time, but I don’t feel like our team feels defeated by that. They are motivated to continue to get better. This is just a step in our journey to where we want to go.”
The GPAC Championship Match marked the fifth five-set contest in the past six Concordia-Northwestern meetings. The latest Bulldog lead in the fifth set came at 7-6. The Red Raiders proceeded to win seven of the next eight points while taking a 13-8 advantage. Three of those kills were delivered by Douma, who amassed an otherworldly 33 kills for the night. Match point occurred when Douma teamed up with Maddy Simpson for a block, a category Northwestern normally takes ownership of.
In two matchups this season with the undefeated Red Raiders (30-0), Concordia has proven to be nearly their equal. Some of the Bulldogs’ best stretch of play on Saturday came during the third set when All-American middle blocker Gabi Nordaker (seven blocks) helped spark her teammates. Concordia totaled seven of its 11 blocks during the third set as it staked itself to a 2-1 match lead. The script was a similar one to the 2023 GPAC tournament title match and this season’s first matchup with Northwestern.
In pacing the Bulldogs on Saturday, Kya Scott produced kills on each of her first three swings and finished with 12 for the evening. The team’s six attackers each posted at least seven kills: Ashley Keck (11), Addie Kirkegaard (nine), Nordaker (nine), Ella Waters (eight) and Ava Greene (seven). Northwestern outhit Concordia, .223 to .142, and totaled more kills, 64-56. Other Bulldog leaders were Becca Gebhardt in digs (20), Lily Psencik in assists (28) and aces (two). Concordia matched the Red Raiders block for block (11-11).
Northwestern set Douma 81 out of its 184 attacks. Sampson ranked second on the team with nine kills (to go with nine blocks). The Red Raiders will undoubtedly be the overall No. 1 seed heading into the national tournament.
As for the Bulldogs, they know they can tangle with anyone. Said Boldt, “Our team believes that when we step out on the floor, we can compete with anybody. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be gritty. I’m really proud of our team. We were really balanced. They set Douma 81 times and she had 33 kills. We have to go back to the film and really break down our defense and what we need to do. She had a great game. That’s part of the puzzle that we have to put together.”
Official NAIA national qualifiers will be announced by the NAIA as part of a live selection show scheduled for 12 p.m. CT on Monday. More information about the show can be found HERE. The Bulldogs are expected to host an NAIA Opening Round match on Saturday, Nov. 23. The opening round winners advance to play at the final site of the national tournament, the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, Dec. 4-10.
Bulldogs set to host NAIA Opening Round match, make sixth-straight nationals appearance
November 18, 2024
The matchups for the 2024 NAIA National Championship Opening Round are set. As announced on Monday (Nov. 18), the Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team will welcome Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) to Friedrich Arena for opening round play on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs will make their seventh all-time national tournament appearance while the Saints of San Antonio will step onto the national stage for the fifth time in their program’s history.
NAIA National Championship Opening Round
Concordia (23-3) vs. Our Lady of the Lake (23-8)
--Saturday, Nov. 23 | 1 p.m. CT | Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $5 for college/high school students and youth; only those with NAIA passes are admitted free of charge.
--Buy advance tickets via https://www.cune.edu/athletics/tickets.
Head Coach Ben Boldt and lead assistant Angie Boldt have guided the program to a sixth-straight national tournament appearance. A win on Saturday would push Concordia to the national tournament final site for the sixth year in a row. The bar has been set high by the 2020 and 2021 squads that both reached the NAIA national quarterfinals. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 2 in the most recent NAIA coaches’ poll and qualified for the 2024 national tournament via an automatic bid (GPAC tournament runner up). Concordia placed second in the GPAC in the regular season (one game behind Northwestern) and stands at 24-3 overall. Over the past six years, the Bulldogs have won a combined 12 times at the national tournament. This will be the fourth time in program history that Concordia has hosted an opening round match.
The matchup with OLLU comes with added intrigue in that the Saints are led by former Bulldog Head Coach Scott Mattera. It was Mattera who took Concordia to its first-ever national tournament back in 2015. Mattera served as the Bulldogs’ head coach for six seasons (2012-17) and won 97 matches over that stretch. OLLU qualified for the 2024 national tournament by winning the Red River Athletic Conference tournament title. The Saints also qualified for nationals in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 and have won once on the national stage (2017). The ’24 OLLU team placed five players on the RRAC all-conference first or second teams. A senior libero, Tina Trevino was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth time. She was joined on the first team by outside hitters Mia Francis and Camila Ramirez and setter Lauren Reynard.
The Matchup
--National ranking in parentheses
Concordia
Head Coach: Ben Boldt, 7th season
Record: 24-3, 15-1 GPAC (2nd)
SOS: 7th (Massey Ratings)
Hitting %: .234 (T-15th)
Kills/set: 14.11 (7th)
Blocks/set: 2.34 (T-13th)
Digs/set: 18.39 (19th)
Aces/set: 1.22 (184th)
Kills: Ashley Keck – 323 (3.36/set)
Blocks: Gabi Nordaker – 130 (1.35/set)
Assists: Savannah Shelburne – 596 (6.02/set)
Digs: Rebecca Gebhardt – 416 (4.29/set)
Aces: Savannah Shelburne – 31 (0.31/set)
Our Lady of the Lake
Head Coach: Scott Mattera, 6th season
Record: 23-8
SOS: 113th (Massey Ratings)
Hitting %: .203 (T-45th)
Kills/set: 13.22 (T-24th)
Blocks/set: 1.72 (T-106th)
Digs/set: 17.41 (39th)
Aces/set: 1.71 (T-89th)
Kills: Camila Ramirez – 345 (3.17/set)
Blocks: Makaelyn Perez – 62 (0.58/set)
Assists: Lauren Reynard – 795 (7.16/set)
Digs: Tina Trevino – 621 (5.70/set)
Aces: Lauren Reynard – 33 (0.30/set)
National Tournament Facts/Game Notes
· Concordia will be making the seventh national tournament appearance in program history. The 2015 squad became the first Bulldog volleyball edition to qualify for nationals. The ’15 squad was defeated in the opening round while hosting Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.). Then in 2019, Concordia broke through with an advancement to the national round of 16 and claimed the program’s first two national tournament victories – over Montana Tech and the University of Saint Mary (Kan.). The string of national tournament appearances has continued since 2019 under the direction of the Boldts.
· The 2020 team took things a step further by reaching the NAIA national quarterfinals. The path to the quarterfinals included wins over Xavier University of Louisiana (opening round), Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) and No. 7 Marian University (Ind.). The run ended with a loss to Dordt. The 2021 squad also advanced to the NAIA national quarterfinals, which continues to be the farthest point the program has ever reached. The ’21 team won matches at the final site over No. 25 Oregon Tech and No. 2 Viterbo University (Wis.).
· In both 2022 and 2023, Concordia fell short of reaching bracket play in Sioux City. The GPAC championship Bulldogs of last season routed Judson University (Ill.) in the opening round, then defeated No. 21 Montana Western in straight sets. That result set up a clash with rival and 13th-ranked Midland, the third meeting of the campaign between the two sides. The Warriors ended Concordia’s season by taking it in three sets. All-American Camryn Opfer topped the Bulldogs with a combined 32 kills over last season’s three national tournament matches.
· Boldt’s crew has plenty of experience on the national stage. The Bulldogs return 11 players that were part of the 2023 national tournament roster. This will be the fifth national tournament for fifth-year Bulldog Gabi Nordaker and the fourth national tournament for teammates Becca Gebhardt, Cassidy Knust and Ashlyn Wischmeier. Others with on-court national tournament experience are Ava Greene, Ashley Keck and Addie Kirkegaard.
· Concordia owns wins over five teams that qualified for the 2024 national tournament: Columbia College (Mo.), Indiana Wesleyan University, Midland (three times), Morningside and Viterbo University (Wis.). Four GPAC teams have qualified for the national tournament and three of them will be hosting in the opening round. The national tournament field is made up of 34 automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large selections.
· While making her fifth appearance on the national stage, Nordaker ranks behind only former teammate Camryn Opfer for most career matches played at the national tournament in program history. Opfer appeared in 18 of the program’s 19 all-time national tournament matches. From 2019 through 2023, Opfer produced 227 kills and 272 digs over her 18 career national tournament matches (all school records). Opfer finished her Bulldog career with program all-time rankings of third in kills (1,561) and third in digs (1,671). As for Nordaker, in 14 career national tournament matches, she has totaled 152 kills and 76 blocks. The block total is the most for any Concordia player in history at nationals. Nordaker will enter the national tournament with school career rankings of third in blocks (588) and fourth in kills (1,393). Elsewhere on the program’s all-time lists, Gebhardt ranks fourth in digs (1,630) and Keck ranks 13th in kills (923).
· Many firsts have been accomplished under the Boldts’ leadership, including the program’s first time reaching the NAIA national quarterfinals and the first No. 1 national ranking (achieved in 2023). The Boldts took over prior to the start of the 2018 season and have proceeded to lead the Bulldogs to season-by-season win totals of 15, 25, 18, 19, 25, 25 and 24, respectively. From a national perspective, Concordia has never been in a more prominent position. It’s a continuation of successful seasons that have seen the Bulldogs finish with national rankings of 14th in 2019, eighth in 2020, sixth in 2021, fourth in 2022 and fourth in 2023. Concordia has been ranked No. 2 in two separate NAIA coaches’ polls in 2024. Ben Boldt enters the 2024 national tournament with a record of 151-50 (.751) at the helm of the program.
Program all-time national tournament matches
Six previous appearances | 12-7 national tournament record | two-time national quarterfinalists
2015
Lost vs. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), 3-0 (Opening Round)
2019
Won vs. No. 19 Montana Tech, 3-1 (Pool Play)
Won vs. Saint Mary (Kan.), 3-0 (Pool Play)
Lost vs. No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan, 3-2 (Pool Play)
Lost vs. No. 4 Missouri Baptist, 3-0 (Round of 16)
2020
Won at Xavier (La.), 3-1 (Opening Round)
Won vs. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 3-2 (Pool Play)
Won vs. No. 7 Marian (Ind.), 3-1 (Pool Play)
Lost vs. No. 16 Dordt, 3-0 (Quarterfinals)
2021
Won vs. Ave Maria (Fla.), 3-0 (Opening Round)
Won vs. No. 25 Oregon Tech, 3-1 (Pool Play)
Won vs. No. 2 Viterbo (Wis.), 3-2 (Pool Play)
Lost vs. No. 7 Marian (Ind.), 3-2 (Quarterfinals)
2022
Won vs. Florida College, 3-0 (Opening Round)
Won vs. Hastings, 3-1 (Pool Play)
Lost vs. No. 13 Park (Mo.), 3-1 (Pool Play)
2023
Won vs. Judson (Ill.), 3-0 (Opening Round)
Won vs. No. 21 Montana Western, 3-0 (Pool Play)
Lost vs. No. 13 Midland, 3-0 (Pool Play)
The final site
The 24 opening round winners will advance to action at the final site, the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Final site volleyball starts with three days of pool play from December 4-6. The top team of each pool will advance to the elimination bracket, starting with the quarterfinals, on Saturday, December 7. The semifinals will be played on Monday, December 9, and the national champion will be crowned on Tuesday, December 10, with the first serve set for 7 p.m. CST on ESPN3. For more details on the national championship, visit the NAIA volleyball home page HERE. Pool play assignments will be announced on Sunday after all opening round contests have concluded.
Keck named GPAC Attacker of the Year; six Bulldogs earn GPAC postseason awards
November 19, 2024
First Team: Ashley Keck; Gabi Nordaker; Ella Waters.
Second Team: Addie Kirkegaard.
Honorable Mention: Becca Gebhardt; Savannah Shelburne.
SEWARD, Neb. – In conjunction with the 2024 GPAC All-Conference volleyball teams announced by the league office on Tuesday (Nov. 19), six Bulldogs were recognized with conference postseason awards. Concordia’s Ashley Keck was rewarded for an outstanding junior season with the GPAC Attacker of the Year award. Keck was joined on the GPAC’s first team by Concordia University, Nebraska teammates in Gabi Nordaker and Ella Waters. Second team honors went to Addie Kirkegaard and honorable mention status was placed upon Becca Gebhardt and Savannah Shelburne.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA and will carry a 24-3 overall record into the NAIA national tournament. The Bulldogs will play at the national tournament for the sixth-straight year.
A Kearney, Neb., native and Kearney Catholic High School product, Keck has raised her game to another level in 2024. Through 27 matches (96 sets) this season, Keck has totaled 323 kills (3.36 per set) and 358 digs (3.73 per set) while hitting .236 from the outside. She has reached double figures in kills 22 times this season with a high of 19 in the four-set win at Dakota Wesleyan on Oct. 5. In her career, Keck has tallied 923 kills and 722 digs. She ranks 13th on the program’s all-time kills list with a full season to play. With Keck being honored as GPAC Attacker of the Year, Concordia has picked up a major conference player of the year award in back-to-back years (Bree Burtwistle was named GPAC Setter of the Year in 2023). Keck collected four GPAC Player of the Week awards in 2024 and is a three-time All-GPAC honoree (2022 GPAC Freshman of the Year).
A graduate student in her fifth season (‘COVID year’) in the program, Nordaker has earned her fifth career all-conference award. The Millard West High School product was named Second Team All-GPAC as a freshman in 2020 and proceeded to garner first team recognition each of the next four seasons. A two-time NAIA All-American, Nordaker has accumulated 233 kills (2.43 per set) and 130 blocks (1.35 per set) while hitting a team best .352 from her spot at middle blocker. Nordaker ranks second among GPAC players in blocks per set. The accomplished Omaha native currently owns program all-time rankings of third in blocks (588) and fourth in kills (1,393). Nordaker is set to lead the Bulldogs into her fifth career national tournament appearance.
In her first season of competition at Concordia, Waters has starred as a pin hitter in tandem with the likes of Keck and others. A Hickman, Neb., native and Norris High School alum, Waters has amassed 253 kills (2.69 per set) and 60 blocks and has hit .285 from the outside. Waters has reached the 10-kill mark 14 times this season with a high of 17 coming in the five-set win over then top-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University. Waters is a transfer from Washburn University.
As a junior, Kirkegaard stepped into a much larger role and took advantage of the opportunity. Through 27 matches this season, the Hastings St. Cecilia High School alum has tallied 212 kills (2.14 per set) and 72 blocks to go along with a .192 hitting percentage from the right side. Kirkegaard has achieved season highs of 15 kills in the straight-sets win at College of Saint Mary and eight blocks in the straight-sets home win over Doane.
At the libero position, Gebhardt has been a major factor in Concordia’s success over the past four seasons. The Norfolk, Neb., native and Lutheran High School Northeast alum has been named Honorable Mention All-GPAC for the third consecutive year. On the season, Gebhardt has produced 416 digs (4.29 per set) and 485 service receptions. Her season high of 32 digs came in the four-set win at Dakota Wesleyan. Gebhardt was twice honored this season as the GPAC Defender of the Week. She ranks No. 4 on the program’s all-time digs list with 1,630 (in addition to 1,667 career service receptions and 67 career aces).
A junior from Omaha, Shelburne has pulled in her first GPAC All-Conference award. A two-time GPAC Setter of the Week in 2024, Shelburne has paired with Lily Psencik in Concordia’s 6-2 system this season. In 27 matches this season, Shelburne has totaled 596 assists (6.02 per set) and 200 digs (2.02 per set) to go with a team high 31 aces. Shelburne has helped quarterback an offense that sports NAIA national rankings of seventh in kills per set (14.11) and 15th in hitting percentage (.234).
The 2024 season will continue on Saturday when the Bulldogs host Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) in the opening round of the NAIA Volleyball National Championships. First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. Opening round winners advance to play at the final site, the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.