They weren't about to allow it this time. The Bulldogs were sharp and focused on Friday (Dec. 6) while defeating No. 13 Mount Vernon Nazarene in straight sets and locking up a spot in the NAIA National Quarterfinals.
The work of Ella Waters (14 kills) on the attack and superior defensive play led No. 4 Concordia to a win over No. 21 The Master's on the national stage. The Bulldogs are 1-0 in pool play with a match set for Friday.
An NAIA final site qualifier for the sixth-straight year, Concordia Volleyball has also excelled in the classroom. The Bulldogs put 15 team members on the list of 2024 NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
As announced by the NAIA on Nov. 24, the Bulldogs have been seeded fourth and will play No. 21 The Master's and No. 13 Mount Vernon Nazarene in NAIA National Championship pool play.
The first and third sets were tight down the stretch, but the second-ranked Bulldogs got the job done while advancing to the final site of the national tournament for the sixth-straight year.
Ashley Keck highlighted a group of six Bulldogs named to the 2024 GPAC All-Conference teams. Keck was tabbed the GPAC Attacker of the Year as one of three first team all-conference Concordia honorees.
In its sixth-straight national tournament appearance, second-ranked Concordia will host Our Lady of the Lake for the NAIA Opening Round. The Bulldogs have won 12 times on the national stage.
A GPAC Championship showdown between the top two teams in the NAIA lived up to the billing. Ultimately, No. 1 Northwestern edged No. 2 Concordia in Orange City, Iowa. The Bulldogs now prep for the national tournament.
The GPAC tournament championship match will feature a showdown between the NAIA's Nos. 1 and 2 teams in Orange City, Iowa. The Bulldogs have reached the GPAC final for the fourth-straight year.
In perhaps their best outing all season, the second-ranked Bulldogs were dominant in taking care of No. 20 Midland in the GPAC semifinals. The win sets up a trip to Orange City, Iowa, on Saturday.
Featured StoryAll-American Gabi Nordaker may have turned down Concordia after the initial offer, but she's learned to love life as a Bulldog. In three collegiate seasons, Nordaker has been a major reason why the program has reached great heights.
Featured StoryOnce Rachel Miller experienced it, she held on and never let go. The former All-American volleyball star and past Bulldog head coach remains deeply rooted within the Concordia and Seward and communities.
Featured StoryA veteran and battle-tested bunch of Bulldogs picked up where they left off in the fall and enjoyed a spring of continued development. The spring season, which included a matchup with a Big Ten foe, was about preparing to 'level up' in 2023.
- Featured Story
Four seasons of college volleyball are in the books for Bree Burtwistle and Camryn Opfer, but they aren't ready to let go. The two All-Americans will return in 2023 in pursuit of a GPAC championship Concordia Volleyball covets.
- Featured Story
It was another season of national prominence for Concordia Volleyball, which was led by a senior class that trusted the process throughout four years. The likes of Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer helped lead the Bulldogs to a No. 4 national ranking.
- Featured Story
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.
Featured StoryBree 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.
Featured StoryThree-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.
Featured StoryCamryn 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.
Featured StoryIn 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.
Upcoming Events
Volleyball
vs.
York University
Concordia UniversityFriedrich ArenaSeward, Neb.Volleyball
vs.
Concordia University
Columbia CollegeMarian, Ind.
