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.
Yet another postseason honor rolled in for Camryn Opfer, named an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American on Thursday (Dec. 9). The Concordia Volleyball program has had at least one All-American in three-straight seasons.
On the strength of an appearance in the national quarterfinals, the Concordia Volleyball program has achieved its best ever postseason ranking. The Bulldogs landed at No. 6 in the NAIA Postseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
For the second year in a row, Camryn Opfer has been named to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship All-Tournament Team. Opfer totaled 59 kills, 68 digs and seven blocks as the Bulldogs advanced to the national quarterfinals.
Key figures in another run to the NAIA national quarterfinals, Camryn Opfer and Gabi Nordaker have earned selection as All-West Central Region award winners from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
The margins could not have been any finer on Thursday (Dec. 2) as the 19th-ranked Bulldogs saw their national tournament run come to an end. Concordia fell in five sets at the hands of No. 7 Marian in the NAIA quarterfinals.
A national quarterfinalist for the second season in a row, Concordia will face No. 7 Marian at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday (Dec. 2). The winner will advance to play in the national semifinals on Friday.
It was another heart stopper, but the Bulldogs were the ones celebrating a berth in the NAIA national quarterfinals for a second season in a row. Camryn Opfer put away match point and finished with 21 kills and 16 digs in a starring role.
Five Bulldogs posted at least 10 kills and another four notched at least 10 digs as part of a balanced effort on Tuesday (Nov. 30) that has put No. 19 Concordia within one win of the NAIA national quarterfinals.
National tournament pool play action from the Tyson Events Center will get underway on Tuesday, Nov. 30. The Bulldogs are preparing to take on No. 25 Oregon Tech and No. 2 Viterbo. Pool play winners advance to the NAIA national quarterfinals.
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.