SEWARD, Neb. – Having just been stamped with the NAIA’s No. 1 ranking on Wednesday (Sept. 27), the Concordia University Volleyball team has its focus on a weekend getaway to Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs will attempt to back up their lofty status while playing on the home courts of Briar Cliff and Morningside in a continuation of the GPAC grind. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad stands at 13-0 overall (6-0 GPAC) following last week’s home wins over Mount Marty and Dordt.
This Week
Friday, Sept. 29 at Briar Cliff (6-14, 1-5 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Newman Flanagan Center (Sioux City, Iowa)
Saturday, Sept. 30 at Morningside (8-11, 2-4 GPAC), 3 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center (Sioux City, Iowa)
By the numbers
· For the first time in program history, Concordia owns the No. 1 ranking in the nation. The Bulldogs pulled in 20 of 21 first-place votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll released on Wednesday while climbing up from the No. 2 spot, which they held down in the two previous national polls. Prior to this season, Concordia’s highest poll position nationally had been No. 4, where it stood at the close of the 2022 regular season. While the current ranking is new territory, the program has consistently garnered high rankings during the six-year tenure of Ben and Angie Boldt. Over the past four seasons, the Boldts’ teams went on to earn final rankings of No. 14 in 2019, No. 8 in 2020, No. 6 in 2021 and No. 4 in 2022. The Bulldogs have reached the final site of the national tournament in four consecutive campaigns.
· The season profile for Concordia includes wins over four teams ranked in the latest NAIA coaches’ poll: No. 8 Park University (Mo.), No. 10 Midland, No. 11 College of Saint Mary and No. 20 Kansas Wesleyan University. Entering the week, the Bulldogs were one of three unbeaten squads remaining in the NAIA, along with Columbia International University (S.C.) (16-0) and Indiana Wesleyan University (15-0). The previous NAIA No. 1 team, Eastern Oregon University (15-1), was upset by Northwest University (Wash.) in five sets back on Sept. 16, paving the way for Concordia to move up a rung. In the GPAC race, the Bulldogs are tied with Jamestown atop the standings at 6-0. Next in line are Northwestern (5-1), College of Saint Mary (4-2) and Midland (4-2).
· Other than a blip in the second set versus Mount Marty, Concordia enjoyed another dominant week within the GPAC. The Bulldogs defeated the Lancers, 25-9, 25-27, 25-13, 25-12, on Sept. 20 and routed Dordt, 25-14, 25-14, 25-14, on Sept. 23 (homecoming). In those two matches, Concordia hit a combined .285 and averaged 13.86 kills per set. Meanwhile, the opposition hit .028 and averaged just 7.71 kills per set. Five Bulldogs notched at least 12 kills for the week: Ashley Keck (26), Gabi Nordaker (22), Camryn Opfer (18), Maddie Paulsen (13) and Carly Rodaway (12). There were also four Concordia players to record at least 20 digs: Becca Gebhardt (39), Bree Burtwistle (22), Opfer (22) and Keck (21).
· Nordaker reached a milestone last week in the win over Mount Marty. The Millard West High School alum became the 10th player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills. Nordaker has pushed her kill total to 1,012 in 98 matches. Other Bulldogs to have eclipsed four digits are Becky Ernstmeyer (1,740), Katie Werner (1,600), Opfer (1,381), Paige Getz (1,331), Rachel Kirchner (1,315), Renae Beikmann (1,223), Darcy Lindner (1,204), Claire White (1,033) and Mindy Evans (1,000+). In addition, Burtwistle surpassed 2,500 career assists this past week (including her one year at Midland). More milestones could be reached this week as Gebhardt will enter the weekend with 979 career digs while Opfer needs 44 more digs to hit 1,500 for her career.
· Nordaker hit .538 last week and pushed her season hitting percentage to .388. That figure ranks No. 1 among GPAC players and puts her No. 7 in the country. Elsewhere on the GPAC leaderboards, Burtwistle ranks No. 1 in assists (11.25) and third in aces per set (0.45), Keck ranks fourth in kills per set (3.63) and Rodaway ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.317). As a team, Concordia sports conference rankings of first in hitting percentage (.300), first in kills per set (14.50), second in aces per set (1.95), fifth in blocks per set (2.01) and eighth in digs per set (16.70).
· Since beginning his tenure as Bulldog head coach in 2018, Ben Boldt owns an overall record of 115-43 for a winning percentage of .728. Earlier this season, Boldt moved past Rachel Miller (107-125) for No. 3 on the program’s all-time wins list. The top two head coaches on that list are Berniece Jones (181-200) and Vicki Boye (167-136).
The opponents
Briar Cliff got its first GPAC win of the season via a five-set triumph over Dordt this past week. Head Coach Lindsey Weatherford is in her fifth season leading the program, which is coming off a 6-22 mark in 2022. On the year, the Chargers are hitting .123 and averaging 11.00 kills per set. Their opponents are hitting .173 and averaging 13.15 kills per set. Three Briar Cliff players have collected at least 100 kills this season: Sami Wasmund (177), Toria Andre (160) and Makynna Snow (145). The Chargers use two setters in Oliva Corey and Yenne Schepers. The program last reached the national tournament in 2015.
Across town, Morningside has secured two GPAC wins, having defeated Dordt in five sets and Briar Cliff in four sets. Head Coach Jessica Squier was named to the helm of the program prior to the start of the 2020 season. The headlining returner on the roster is junior outside hitter Sydney Marlow, named a Second Team All-GPAC honoree in 2022. Marlow tops the team with 235 kills on the season. As a team, the Mustangs are hitting .170 with an average of 11.42 kills per set. The opposition is hitting .180 with an average of 12.67 kills per set. Morningside’s most recent national tournament appearance came in 2019.
Next week
The Bulldogs will return home to host Jamestown on Friday, Oct. 6 and Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 7. The matchup with the defending national champion Jimmies will be a highly anticipated clash inside Friedrich Arena.