JAMESTOWN, N.D. – One of these times, the Concordia University volleyball team is going to get one. It just wasn’t tonight. In the first Bulldog foray inside Newman Arena, the host proved too much. Situated just outside the NAIA top 25, Jamestown came away with the victory, 25-21, 25-17, 25-21, on Friday night (Sept. 28) in Jamestown, N.D., more than an eight-hour drive north of Seward.
First-year head coach Ben Boldt and his staff have preached the need to finish sets. Most disappointing on this particular outing was the inability to hold a 19-11 advantage in the third set. Concordia has slipped to 12-6 overall and to 2-6 in conference play.
“We got stuck in a side-out rotation in the third set and Jamestown didn’t make any errors,” Boldt said. “We were up in the third and couldn’t put it away. Give credit to Jamestown for playing a physical game at the net.”
The Jimmies (14-3, 5-2 GPAC) were just better on Friday night. Known as one of the nation’s top defensive teams, Jamestown had nine blocks to Concordia’s three. The Jimmies also had the most effective attacker in the match. Kennedy Conzemius floored 10 kills while hitting .357. As a team, Jamestown outhit the Bulldogs, .237 to .140.
Jenna Habegger and Emmie Noyd both slammed three kills during the third set that saw the Bulldogs get out to a quick 5-0 lead. They were seemingly in command after a Noyd kill and a Jimmie attack error made it 19-11. It was tough sledding the rest of the way. Jamestown put away seven kills spurred by setter Jackie Meiklejohn during the stretch run of the third set. It ended with a kill by Kori Buchanan.
Habegger and Noyd shared the team high with seven kills apiece. Kayle Dengel (13) and Marissa Hoerman (12) were neck and neck for most digs. Tara Callahan put up 19 assists while again splitting the setter role with Kaci Hohenthaner.
The Bulldogs made their way to Jamestown on Thursday as part of their weekend road trip. The team stopped at L’Amour Elementary in Jamestown to interact with local youth students prior to Friday’s first serve. The travel party will relocate to South Dakota tonight for the last leg of the journey.
The Dakota weekend swing will continue on Saturday when the Bulldogs will be at Dakota Wesleyan (11-8, 1-6 GPAC) in Mitchell, S.D. First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT. The Tigers were also in action on Friday night with the result being a straight-sets home loss to seventh-ranked Midland.