As part of a weekend at home entertaining Briar Cliff and Morningside, the sixth-ranked Bulldogs will celebrate a class of six seniors. Concordia has won each of its last 12 sets in a dominant stretch of play within the GPAC.
For their starring performances in wins last week over Mount Marty and No. 14 Dordt, Bree Burtwistle and Gabi Nordaker have been honored with GPAC Player of the Week awards. Burtwistle was last week's NAIA Setter of the Week.
Concordia just keeps operating like a machine. The eighth-ranked Bulldogs hit .345 on Saturday (Sept. 24) while speeding past No. 14 Dordt in straight sets. Concordia has moved to 14-1 overall (5-1 GPAC).
Bree Burtwistle knew her time was coming. It just took some patience and persistence before she could burst onto the scene as one of the NAIA's best setters. A transfer in her third year as a Bulldog, Burt is soaking up a 2022 season of winning with her best friends.
The Bulldogs responded to a first-set push from Mount Marty and took control of the match, winning 25-23, 25-13, 25-16, in Yankton on Wednesday (Sept. 21). Gabi Nordaker floored 13 kills and hit .632 to pace No. 8 Concordia.
For the first time in her collegiate career, Bree Burtwistle has been named both the GPAC and NAIA National Setter of the Week. Burtwistle pulled in the award after leading an offensive attack that overwhelmed Doane and No. 13 College of Saint Mary.
The grind of the GPAC season is in full swing. After sweeping away Doane and No. 13 College of Saint Mary last week, the Bulldogs are focused on road trips to Mount Marty and Dordt. Concordia stands at 12-1 overall.
In a crisp homecoming performance, the eighth-ranked Bulldogs defeated No. 13 College of Saint Mary in straight sets. Gabi Nordaker and Ashley Keck led the stunningly dominant performance with 13 kills apiece.
A week since last time out, the eighth-ranked Bulldogs got big nights from their middles and tightened up the service game in a straight-sets win at Doane. Gabi Nordaker totaled 11 kills and five blocks to pace the victors.
Following a weekend off, the 10th-ranked Bulldogs will return to action by playing at Doane on Wednesday and then hosting No. 16 College of Saint Mary on Saturday. Concordia (10-1) ranks fifth nationally in hitting percentage.
It's a transcendent class that has helped Concordia Volleyball reach heights it had never before seen. Collectively, the group has set a new standard while living out the program's values: love, hard work, sacrifice and trust.
Bree Burtwistle knew her time was coming. It just took some patience and persistence before she could burst onto the scene as one of the NAIA's best setters. A transfer in her third year as a Bulldog, Burt is soaking up a 2022 season of winning with her best friends.
Three-straight NAIA top 15 finishes lead the Concordia Volleyball program into a 2022 campaign that comes with high hopes. The Bulldogs believe they are primed to take things a step farther after back-to-back national quarterfinal appearances.
Camryn Opfer has continued to make a name for herself within the community she has always called home. The Seward High School alum has a habit of playing big in big moments for a Concordia Volleyball program that has grabbed the national spotlight.
In terms of the approach and the goals of the Concordia Volleyball program, not much has changed since the 2021 season ended in the national quarterfinals. The Bulldogs grew in confidence this spring while 'leaning in' in anticipation of the 2022 campaign.
In a season that came with its share of challenges, the Bulldogs never gave up while advancing to the national quarterfinals for the second season in a row. The 2021 Bulldogs earned the program's best ever final national ranking.
Four years was just not enough for Tara Callahan, who returned to the Bulldogs in 2021 to provide steady leadership and consistently excellent play on the court. Her journey has included many mountaintop moments and unshakable bonds.
Ranked seventh in the NAIA in the preseason, Concordia Volleyball is ready to follow up a national quarterfinal run this past spring. "GPAC championship level effort" is the expectation.
As disjointed and unique as it was, the 2020-21 season provided plenty of rewards for staff, players and supporters of the Concordia Volleyball, which finished ranked No. 8 in the NAIA.
This wasn't exactly how they expected their senior seasons to look, but these Bulldogs aren't focusing on the negative. They are grateful for the chance to continue the program's rise.