SEWARD, Neb. – Week three of the 2022 season will include the GPAC opener and a large-scale weekend event in North Sioux City, S.D. The extravaganza begins on Wednesday when Hastings will visit Friedrich Arena. In neutral site action on Friday and Saturday, the 11th-ranked Bulldogs will go up against ninth-ranked Viterbo University (Wis.), Presentation College (S.D.), Dakota State University (S.D.) and Evangel University (Mo.). Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad carries a 5-0 record into the week following wins over McPherson College (Kan.) and Texas Wesleyan University.
This Week
Wednesday, Aug. 31 vs. Hastings (6-1, 0-0 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
CSM Labor Day Classic: Sept. 2-3
-Location: CNOS Fieldhouse | North Sioux City, S.D.
--Live Stats
--Live Streaming
--Tickets: $15 per day for adults; $20 for a tournament pass; children 5 and under free
Friday, Sept. 2 vs. (9) Viterbo (4-3), 1 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Presentation (1-4), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 3 vs. Dakota State (4-2), 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 3 vs. Evangel (3-4), 3 p.m.
By the numbers
· Concordia has lived up to its preseason national ranking of 11th. The Bulldogs won both matches this past week in straight sets while fighting off rallies in the third sets against both McPherson and Texas Wesleyan. By statistical category, Concordia leaders over the weekend were Carly Rodaway in kills (19), Bree Burtwistle in assists (66), Gabi Nordaker in blocks (six), Rebecca Gebhardt in digs (36) and Burtwistle and Gebhardt in aces (three apiece). Four others besides Rodaway had double-digit kills for the weekend: Nordaker (18), Kalee Wiltfong (17), Ashley Keck (12) and Opfer (12). As a team, the Bulldogs outhit their opponents, .280 to .065.
· The pride of Seward High School, Opfer eclipsed a career milestone last week in surpassing 1,000 digs while wearing the Concordia colors. Opfer has produced 1,006 digs and 990 kills since becoming a Bulldog in 2019. Only three players in the history of the program have ever reached both 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills in a career. Opfer has been central to everything the program has done since the moment she arrived on campus. She’s a two-time NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team selection and was named an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American last season.
· Bree Burtwistle has fit in nicely as the team’s primary setter. The native of Stanton, Neb., is in her third year in the program and in her first season as a starter. Bree Green has also seen time at setter as part of an occasional 6-2 system. Through five matches, Burtwistle has accumulated 186 assists (10.33/set), 52 digs and 11 kills. Her seamless transition has helped ease the loss of Tara Callahan, who was a five-year starter and someone instrumental to the growth of the program. A transfer from Midland, Burtwistle saw action in nine matches in 2021 and played in 29 matches for Midland in 2019.
· The emergence of Burtwistle and Concordia’s plethora of attacking options make the Bulldogs a difficult scout. So far this season, four hitters have at least 40 kills this season: Nordaker (55), Rodaway (53), Keck (46) and Opfer (42). A hard hitter in the middle, Wiltfong has added 28 kills. As a team, Concordia sports national rankings of ninth in hitting percentage (.244) and 17th in kills per set (13.44). A returning First Team All-GPAC performer, Nordaker is likely to also push 1,000 kills later in her career. She’s accumulated 620 kills and 241 blocks through 59 career matches.
· In the back row, Gebhardt is taking off in the libero role. She notched 25 digs in the three-set win over Texas Wesleyan and has bumped up her average digs per set to 4.78 this season after averaging 2.46 as a freshman in 2021. The back row is much more experienced than it was at this time a year ago. Of course Opfer is a contributor in this area, and so too is Lexie Kreizel (34 digs this season), who emerged in a significant way in the latter part of last season. In addition, Burtwistle has collected 52 digs and Cassy Knust has added 16.
This Week’s Opponents
Hastings
2022 Record: 6-1
2021 Record: 14-14
Head Coach: Alex Allard (4th season)
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Hastings, Nebraska
Hitting %: .197
Opp Hitting %: .136
Viterbo
2022 Record: 4-3
2021 Record: 39-2
Head Coach: Ryan DeLong (18th season)
Conference: North Star Athletic Association
Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Hitting %: .151
Opp Hitting %: .202
Presentation
2022 Record: 1-4
2021 Record: 15-14
Head Coach: Chelsey Albrecht (15th season)
Conference: North Star Athletic Association
Location: Aberdeen, South Dakota
Hitting %: .104
Opp Hitting %: .215
Dakota State
2022 Record: 4-2
2021 Record: 21-9
Head Coach: Amy Veenhof (14th season)
Conference: North Star Athletic Association
Location: Madison, South Dakota
Hitting %: .189
Opp Hitting %: .138
Evangel
2022 Record: 3-4
2021 Record: 20-12
Head Coach: Mary Whitehead (23rd season)
Conference: Heart of America Athletic Conference
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Hitting %: .200
Opp Hitting %: .198
Next week
The schedule next week will be much lighter, but it includes a major early GPAC showdown at No. 5 Midland on Sept. 7. The Bulldogs will have the weekend of Sept. 10-11 off from competition.