2024-25 Record: 14-15 overall, 9-13 GPAC (8th)
Head Coach: Drew Olson (484-155, 19 seasons; 16 national tournament appearances; 12 GPAC regular season/tournament titles; five national semifinal advancements, including two runners up; 2019 national champions).
Returning Starters: F Raelyn Kelty; F Kristin Vieselmeyer.
Other Key Returners: G Joclyn Bassett; G Bree Bunting; G Savi Butterfield; G Libby Hoffman; G Sammy Leu; G JJ Jones; F Makynna Robbins.
Key Losses: G Megan Belt; G Kendal Brigham; F Abby Heemstra; G Abby Krieser.
2024-25 GPAC All-Conference: Kendal Brigham (Second Team); Kristin Vieselmeyer (Second Team); Abby Krieser (Honorable Mention); Raelyn Kelty (Honorable Mention).
Outlook
A renewed energy and sense of optimism permeates the Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball program as Head Coach Drew Olson enters season No. 20 guiding an outfit he’s led to the mountaintop. After 13 straight trips to the national tournament, the 2024-25 Bulldogs felt something awkward and foreign: ending a campaign in the month of February. The abrupt conclusion spurred some re-evaluation, but not a rush to make any drastic, wholesale changes.
The trick will be to turn around the close calls that resulted in a below .500 record. Twice last season Concordia took eventual national champion Dordt to overtime before coming up short. Eight varsity players return who saw action in at least 18 games last season and experienced more than their share of heartache (seven defeats by three points or less or in overtime). They have turned the page.
“It just motivated us,” Olson said of the season of near misses. “It made us really hungry to get back to the standards that were set. I think our players did an awesome job throughout the summer coming back with a different mindset while developing skills and confidence. We’re hoping to get that swagger back. I’m liking what we’re doing so far.”
It’s safe to say that Olson’s 2025-26 team will be disappointed from a results standpoint if it doesn’t land itself back in the NAIA’s field of 64 come March 2026. A senior with career tallies of 635 points and 294 rebounds to her credit, the 6-foot-2 Kristin Vieselmeyer leads the charge from the frontcourt. Vieselmeyer and 5-foot-11 junior Raelyn Kelty headline the team’s group of post players while a host of juniors fill a backcourt that will be asked to hound opposing guards in the program’s patented full-court press. The juniors and seniors know what an elite team looks like having been part of the 2023-24 squad that reached the NAIA national championship final site.
Following ’23-24, this past season’s squad was tasked with replacing an accomplished senior class that included All-American Taysha Rushton. There were growing pains and moments when Concordia couldn’t quite figure out who to turn to in crunch time or who to lean upon to deliver the finishing blow. The offseason has been a time for finding those answers.
“I think we definitely learned the importance of composure,” Vieselmeyer said. “If we have composure and we trust in each other and the work that we’ve put in, those games will end up going our way. I definitely feel like we had so many close calls that it got frustrating to a point. We’re trying to look forward and not look back at those moments and remind ourselves that we’ve put in so much hard work. If we stay true to our culture and identity, we’ll come out on top.”
A star for her state championship Holyoke High School team as a prep senior, Vieselmeyer has shown the ability to be that go-to player. Olson refers to her as an “amazing person” and considers her to be one of the nation’s top post players. Vieselmeyer produced a combined 45 points in last season’s two regular season meetings with Dordt and averaged 10.2 points for the season. She was joined with 2024-25 All-GPAC honors by Kelty, who surged to 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per outing as a sophomore.
Many of Olson’s best teams have been spurred by lead guards who can attack teams relentlessly on both ends of the floor. The junior class is long on guards who can come at foes in waves. That crew includes Joclyn Bassett (1.7 ppg), Bree Bunting (4.0 ppg), Libby Hoffman (3.9 ppg) and Sammy Leu (5.9 ppg). In addition, fellow junior JJ Jones (4.8 ppg) has played in a variety of roles. Bunting has put together a fine preseason while senior guard Gabrielle Wagner appears poised to put herself into the rotational mix.
Olson senses something different about the junior class compared to a year ago. Said Olson, “There’s a big group and a collection of them that has really come into this season changed. Better work ethic. Better focus and a lot of confidence. They are ready to take on that next role, that next challenge. We’re really excited about it.”
The underclassmen will also have a say in what amounts of this season. The point guard position just might be held down by a freshman. Ayla Roth tallied 1,297 points and 282 assists in her prep career and led Milford High School to the 2025 Nebraska Class C-1 high school state championship game. Millard North High School graduate Sara Harley is another freshman with an opportunity to make an immediate impact. From the sophomore group, Savi Butterfield and Makynna Robbins saw action last season. Noted for her physical strength, Robbins showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman and was the MVP of the 2025 Concordia Invitational Tournament.
The most significant personnel departures from last season are playmaking guards Kendal Brigham (1,000-point scorer) and Abby Krieser, sharpshooter Megan Belt and frontcourt glue player Abby Heemstra. Olson brought in NCAA Division II Black Hills State University transfer Payton Burda to help fortify the backcourt. Unfortunately, she suffered an injury that will keep her sidelined this winter.
On the plus side, Olson believes depth at the guard position will prove to be a strength. Olson plans to unleash the gnats-at-a-picnic pressure Bulldog fans have become accustomed to – and hopefully increase the team’s offensive firepower and 3-point shooting efficiency.
“I think we’ve got some really good guards,” Olson said. “We’re pretty overloaded with talented guards. We’ve got great length, great athleticism. I’m very impressed with how well they’ve worked to improve their shooting. I think that’s a really big key to our season.”
There’s a new dynamic on the coaching staff as Olson welcomed Katherine Benes (Concordia University Chicago graduate) and graduate assistant Vince Ongtangco to the program. Benes actually played at Friedrich Arena for CUC at the 2023 CIT. Olson has expressed his gratitude for former assistant Tae’lor Purdy Korell’s 10 years of major contributions while also being thankful for the presence of Benes and Ongtangco.
Said Olson, “It’s been awesome with the newness. There’s a different kind of energy. Tae’lor was an amazing assistant coach. She and I fit really well. Katherine brings a new perspective and a new energy. Her impact on the players already has been very impressive. Vince is another person with great energy and very fun. The guy will get into a bulldog costume. It’s been a great thing for our team.”
From a player perspective, Vieselmeyer made special mention of “Rae” and JJ for their competitive fire that is “uplifting” the team while also commending Bunting for her shooting touch this preseason and Wagner for “kicking butt.” The upperclassmen have also noticed the way the freshman Roth has helped energize the team.
That word ‘energy’ keeps coming back. Said Vieselmeyer, “I feel like our team has a lot of energy, a lot of young energy that’s willing to put in a lot of hard work and effort. We have girls who are willing to step up – and girls who have been on varsity for a year or two who finally have their moments to shine. We have so many individuals with a lot of talent. It’s starting to show in practices. That’s just super exciting because we have girls who have seen the game and now they get to step into the spotlight.”
As for Olson, he’s not quick to single out any players individually. After all, now is not the time to divulge every secret. He speaks more within the team context when describing how affective he thinks this team can be on the defensive end and how its length can cause opponents problems. The Bulldogs think they can solve the need for playmaking ability at the end of games, but the proof will come when the lights turn on.
For now, it’s about the process and formation of a new identity. This preseason, the Bulldogs are wearing practice attire with the word “press” displayed on their shirts. Explains Olson, “It’s from Phillipians – pressing on towards the goal. Our theme word is ‘press.’ It’s dual-purposed. We want to press on. It’s continuing to challenge yourself and keep pushing towards that goal that we want. Press is something we want to have our identity in defensively. We can always turn it back to what that verse is about, pointing our eyes towards Christ, which is the ultimate goal, regardless of how our season goes with wins and losses. The ultimate prize is Christ.”
The 2025-26 season will tip off on Saturday, Oct. 25 when Concordia will welcome Kansas Christian College to Friedrich Arena. As a major highlight of the nonconference slate, the Bulldogs will take a pre-Christmas trip to Honolulu, Hawaii. The complete ’25-26 schedule can be found HERE.
Milestone to watch: Drew Olson enters this season needing 16 wins to reach 500 for his career. Olson is the winningest coach in Concordia University, Nebraska Athletics history, regardless of sport.