SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances throughout the calendar month, graduate student Gabi Nordaker of the volleyball program and senior Tristan Smith of the men’s basketball program have been selected as the Bulldog Athletic Association Member Athletes of the Month (BAAM) for December 2024. The winners emerged from a vote conducted on Tuesday (Jan. 14) with attendees at the BAAM luncheon, the first held during the spring 2025 semester at Concordia.
Nordaker completed her collegiate volleyball career during the month of December as the Bulldogs made a run to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championships in Sioux City, Iowa. In the three national tournament matches that occurred in December, the Omaha native totaled 31 kills (2.58/set) and eight blocks (0.67/set) while hitting .500. In the final match of her career, Nordaker landed 14 kills on 26 swings (.538) versus Bellevue University. Nordaker led Concordia to wins at the national tournament final site over No. 21 The Master’s University (Calif.) and No. 13 Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio). The postseason accolades for Nordaker included recognition as an NAIA Second Team All-American and First Team All-GPAC selection. For the 2024 season, Nordaker racked up 273 kills and posted team highs for hitting percentage (.371) and blocks (139) from her spot in the middle. On the program’s all-time lists, Nordaker ranks third in blocks (597) and fourth in kills (1,433).
A native of Elizabeth, Colo., Smith is in the midst of a sterling senior season that has included three GPAC Offensive Player of the Week awards. During the month of December, Smith averaged 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block per game while shooting 72.2 percent (52-for-72) from the floor, 75.0 percent (6-for-8) from 3-point range and 71.9 percent (23-for-32) from the foul line in seven games. Smith poured in a then career-high 35 points in the win at Waldorf and was subsequently honored with a GPAC weekly award. Among GPAC players this season, Smith ranks first in field goal percentage (.691), second in blocks per game (1.3), sixth in scoring average (20.4), sixth in rebounding (7.4), sixth in assists (3.9) and sixth in steals (1.9). Smith has totaled 1,246 points and 597 rebounds in 96 career games as a Bulldog. Smith and his teammates stand at 13-4 overall (8-3 GPAC) and carry a seven-game GPAC winning streak into the middle of January.
BAAM Athletes of the Month are rewarded out of the pool of student-athletes that garner BAAM Athlete of the Week recognition throughout the month.
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
December – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
November – Austin Jablonski (football) / Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
October – Carson Fehlhafer (football) / Kierstynn Garner (soccer)
September – Mark Arp (football) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Joey Grabanski (baseball) / Aubriana Krieser (softball)
March – Jessie Ciezki (shooting sports) / Zach Zohner (track & field)
February – Jaidan Quinn (baseball) / Mackenzie Toomey (basketball)
January – Kendal Brigham (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
December – Evan Fukuhara (weightlifting) / Hayley Miles (track & field)
November – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Abby Krieser (basketball)
October – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / DJ McGarvie (football)
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
2022-23 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Jenna Esch (track & field) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball)
March – Wyatt Hambly (shooting sports) / Claire Kee (shooting sports) / Josie Puelz (track & field)
February – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
January – Rylee Haecker (track & field) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
December – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Gage Smith (basketball)
November – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
October – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Korrell Koehlmoos (football) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
September – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball) / Camden Sesna (cross country)