SEWARD, Neb. – Through seven matches this season, the Concordia University volleyball team has needed only 22 sets to quickly put away its nonconference opponents. The Bulldogs (7-0) are coming off wins over Waldorf University (Iowa), Mayville State University (N.D.) and Benedictine College (Kan.) at last week’s Bulldog Bash. Now can they carry over their impressive early season play into conference action? No. 14 Hastings visits Seward for a GPAC opening clash on Wednesday night.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 4 vs. (14) Hastings (2-5), 7:30 p.m.
Live Webcast/Stats: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Baker Invitational: Sept. 6-7 (Baldwin City, Kan.)
NOTE: Still waiting for word on possible live coverage
Friday, Sept. 6 vs. Graceland University (3-6), 10 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7 vs. Haskell Indian Nations University (1-4), 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7 at Baker University (5-7), 3 p.m.
Head coach Ben Boldt’s squad owns a win over No. 19 Corban University (Ore.), but the real proving ground will come throughout competition within the NAIA’s toughest volleyball conference. Though Massey Ratings has Concordia’s strength of schedule at No. 126 in the NAIA to this point, the way it has handled that schedule has been impressive. Bulldog foes have a combined seven aces while going up against Marissa Hoerman and an experienced Concordia back row. Hoerman piled up 45 digs last week, including 19 in the straight sets win over Waldorf.
Improvement has been evident across the board for the Bulldogs. In an interview following the victory over Waldorf, Hoerman lauded a front row that has been bolstered by new faces like freshmen Camryn Opfer and Kalee Wiltfong. Of course senior Emmie Noyd has also been a rock in the middle of that front row. Among all NAIA volleyball teams, Concordia ranks first in kills per game (15.0) and second in hitting percentage (.319). Noyd is hitting a sizzling .387 while serving as a frequent target of setter Tara Callahan, whose 11.77 assists per game rank third best in the NAIA.
A win over Hastings would certainly be a feather in the cap of the Bulldogs. The NAIA national champion in 2016, the Broncos have had Concordia’s number. Hastings has won eight-straight matchups in the series since the Bulldogs bested the Broncos in Seward in 2015. Hastings is attempting to reload with head coach Alexandra Allard, who took over after previous head coach Matt Buttermore left to take the job at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The Broncos returned a couple of all-conference players in right side Lucy Skoch and middle blocker Emily Lenners.
Following Wednesday’s outing, the Bulldogs will attempt to extend their active streak of 19-straight wins against nonconference opponents. Concordia will end the week with a rematch versus a Baker squad that it defeated in three sets at the Red Raider Classic on Aug. 23. Graceland and Haskell Indian Nations will be unfamiliar opponents. Last season Graceland went 18-20 while Haskell went 11-22.
Once this week is in the books, the Bulldogs will play 15 of their final 16 regular-season matches against GPAC opponents. The lone exception will be a trip to Peru State College on Sept. 21. Another big GPAC showdown looms Sept. 14 when No. 8 Midland is slated to be at Walz Arena.