2022 NAIA Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second year in a row, the Concordia University Volleyball program will begin a season ranked in the top 15 of the NAIA poll. In the release of the 2022 NAIA Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll on Wednesday (Aug. 10), the Bulldogs landed at No. 11. At the close of the 2021 season, Concordia appeared at No. 6 in the national poll, equaling the best poll position in program history.
Entering the 2022 campaign, Coach Ben Boldt’s program has concluded three-straight seasons with top 15 national rankings in the official poll. The Bulldogs garnered final postseason national rankings of 14th in 2019, eighth in 2020 and sixth in 2021. Concordia has appeared inside the top 25 in 18 of the past 20 coaches’ polls (also received votes when not appearing in the top 25).
Impressively, Concordia is one of four NAIA programs nationally to advance to bracket play at the national tournament in each of the past three seasons (the others are Jamestown, Missouri Baptist and Northwestern). All eight of the program’s all-time national tournament victories have come since Ben and Angie Boldt took on leadership of the Bulldogs. On an individual level, Camryn Opfer has been named to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team in back-to-back seasons. Opfer and Gabi Nordaker are returning First Team All-GPAC selections.
Six other GPAC squads appeared inside the top 25 of the 2022 preseason poll: No. 2 Jamestown, No. 5 Midland, No. 8 Northwestern, No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan, No. 18 College of Saint Mary and No. 24 Dordt. Outside of league play, Concordia will play additional nationally ranked foes in No. 9 Viterbo University (Wis.) and No. 19 Oregon Tech. Four other nonconference opponents are listed uner the "receiving votes" category.
Program preseason national ratings, GPAC era
2022 – 11th
2021 – 7th
2020 – *No official preseason ranking due to COVID-19
2016 – 21st
2001 – 20th
2000 – 25th
Program postseason national ratings, GPAC era
2021 – 6th
2020 – 8th
2019 – 14th
2015 – 22nd
2000 – 18th