FREMONT, Neb. – Eventually one of these five-setters will go the way of Concordia University Volleyball. The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs have proven they can hang with anyone in the GPAC – they just haven’t always found that finishing punch. In another close call on Wednesday (Sept. 29), arch nemesis and third-ranked Midland eked past Concordia, 19-25, 25-14, 25-19, 13-25, 15-13, in Fremont, Neb. The Bulldogs fell despite hitting .278 for the evening.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad had just come off a five-set home defeat at the hands of then 17th-ranked College of Saint Mary. Concordia has slipped to 9-7 overall and to 4-4 within the GPAC.
“We have to continue to be who we are,” Boldt said. “We’re looking at one point the other way and we’re talking about a celebration. We broke down a little bit in the last five points with our serve and pass – that’s communication at the end. There was a ball we half-played that was going out of bounds, but we were taking big swings at the end. That’s all we can ask of them.”
The set scores painted a picture of alternating stretches of dominance. The Bulldogs had their way in the first and fourth sets while the Warriors exercised control in the second and third sets. A six-kill performance in the fourth by Camryn Opfer helped pave the way for another five-set pulse pounder. Concordia never had a match point opportunity, but a hotly contested fifth set was enough to make one reach for the Pepto Bismol. Midland celebrated when Cortlyn Schaefer pounded the match-point kill.
Many positives can be taken away for the Bulldogs, who gave a much better account of themselves, as compared to their straight-sets defeat to Midland on Sept. 8. Not only did Concordia outhit the Warriors (.278 to .221), it also recorded more kills, 63-53, and blocks, 12-11. Opfer paced the Bulldogs with 17 kills and 13 digs. Three teammates joined her in double figures in kills: Gabi Nordaker (14), Erica Heinzerling (13) and Carly Rodaway (10). Each of those three attackers hit .333 or higher.
Midland (17-2, 6-2 GPAC) had lost two recent matches, but has proven to be an elite squad. Star setter Hope Leimbach amassed 48 assists while spreading the ball to the likes of Taliyah Flores (16 kills) and Abbey Ringler (12 kills). Concordia managed to block three of Flores’ attacks. In another statistic of note, both sides had one set with a negative hitting percentage.
Bulldog setter Tara Callahan notched 54 assists, eight digs and three blocks. Cassidy Knust also added 13 digs while Kennedy VanScoy dropped in three aces. A year ago, Concordia opened the 2020 season by winning at Midland in straight sets.
“Another huge top 25 matchup and we were right there at the end,” Boldt said. “You see it in their eyes how much they know it’s right there. The result is frustrating, but I still believe we got better tonight. In those two sets we didn’t play well, that wasn’t the team that I recognize. The team from set four and set five is the team that I know and the team we can be. It’s tough to take the loss, but we got better.”
The Bulldogs will have the weekend off from game action, meaning next Wednesday (Oct. 6)’s 7:30 p.m. CT matchup at Doane (16-4, 4-3 GPAC) is next on the schedule. Earlier this season, Concordia moved its series win streak over the rival Tigers to seven. Rodaway put away 12 kills in what amounted to a four-set home win over Doane on Sept. 15.