SEWARD, Neb. – The streak lives on for a Concordia University Volleyball program that produces excellent results both on the court and in the classroom. The 2021-22 Bulldog squad that finished as the highest rated team in program history has pushed the program’s streak of consecutive Team Academic Awards from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) to 24. The active streak ranks No. 1 in the NAIA and tied for first among volleyball programs across all levels of collegiate competition.
The AVCA team award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale or 4.10 on a 5.0 scale. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s 2021-22 team produced GPA’s of 3.56 for the fall semester and 3.82 for the spring semester. The program’s streak of consecutive AVCA Team Academic Awards dates back to 1999. The next longest streak in the NAIA is 15.
Boldt’s group also figures to rank among the national leaders for number of NAIA Scholar-Athletes. The Bulldogs are on track to have 21 Scholar-Athletes when the official list is released in September. This past season, Concordia followed the lead of First Team All-GPAC performers Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer to advances to the GPAC tournament championship final and the NAIA national tournament quarterfinals. The Bulldogs landed at No. 6 in the 2021 NAIA postseason coaches’ poll.
The schedule for the 2022 season can be viewed HERE. Concordia is scheduled to open the campaign in Ashland, Ore., on Aug. 18.