The top-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team got better as the match went on while finding a flow and taking care of Doane, 25-18, 25-19, 25-13, on Wednesday (Oct. 18). Gabi Nordaker paced the Bulldogs with 12 kills and five blocks.
Rematches are on the way this week as the top-ranked Bulldogs will travel to Doane on Wednesday and then host No. 9 College of Saint Mary on Saturday. Concordia enters the week tied atop the GPAC standings at 10-1.
In a matchup between the Nos. 1 and 3 teams in the NAIA, the Bulldogs saw their unbeaten ride come to an end. The Red Raiders won a tight first set and then rode its blocking advantage to victory in Orange City.
Following two pivotal GPAC home victories, two members of the top-ranked Bulldogs were honored with player of the week awards. Gabi Nordaker earned NAIA National Attacker of the Week accolades while Bree Burtwistle was also recognized by the GPAC.
Based on the most recent NAIA coaches' poll, the matchup between Concordia and Northwestern will feature the nation's Nos. 1 and 3 teams. The Bulldogs will carry a 17-0 record (10-0 GPAC) into Saturday's clash in Orange City, Iowa.
There were no signs of a letdown as No. 1 Concordia refueled with a little bit of Scooter's Coffee and showed plenty of energy in a straight sets win over Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday (Oct. 7). Gabi Nordaker produced 15 kills in the middle.
These were the moments Camryn Opfer and Bree Burtwistle came back to soak in. In a match dripping with hype, the top-ranked Bulldogs defeated defending national champ Jamestown in four sets in front of a raucous crowd on Friday (Oct. 6).
In a highly anticipated weekend of home action, the top-ranked Bulldogs will welcome defending national champion Jamestown and 2022 national quarterfinalist Dakota Wesleyan to Friedrich Arena.
The awards keep on coming for All-American setter Bree Burtwistle. The Stanton, Neb., native has collected her fourth GPAC Setter of the Week award in 2023. Burtwistle led the top-ranked Bulldogs to two GPAC wins last week.
A successful weekend in Sioux City was completed on Saturday (Sept. 30) as the top-ranked Bulldogs took care of Morningside in straight sets. As part of the win, libero Becca Gebhardt reached 1,000 career digs.
Featured StoryIn 2015, the Concordia volleyball team set new records and achieved goals that had never been reached in the history of the program. After a 10-21 season in Scott Mattera’s first year in 2012, the head coach developed a team that improved to 26-9 in the most recent season.
Featured StoryThe current class of Concordia volleyball seniors knows exactly what it’s like to watch a program rise from near the bottom of the conference to the heights of a national tournament berth.
Featured StoryThe making of a national tournament volleyball team at Concordia did not happen overnight. The core of the first Bulldog squad ever to break through and reach the national tournament all arrived in the last two to four years.
Featured StoryA fifth-straight appearance in the Tachikara - NAIA Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll yielded the first top-15 ranking for the Concordia University volleyball program since October of 2000.
- Featured Story
As her college head coach looked on, Carli (Smith) Lindeman worked the sideline at Heartland Lutheran High School like a savvy veteran.
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