GAME NOTES: Concordia carries momentum into full week of GPAC contests
SEWARD, Neb. – After coming off an exciting five set victory at No. 2 Midland University, the No. 15 Concordia volleyball team looks to carry winning habits into this week’s competitions. The Bulldogs will welcome College of Saint Mary to Walz Arena Wednesday, Oct. 21 with first serve at 7:30. The match will be the Bulldogs’ Pink Night. Then, on Friday, Oct. 23, the ‘Dogs will travel to South Dakota to take on Dakota Wesleyan University for a 7:30 start time. Saturday, Oct. 24 CUNE will stay in South Dakota to face Mount Marty College at 1:30 p.m.
MATCH INFO
College of Saint Mary (10-13, 1-10 GPAC) at No. 15 Concordia University (20-5, 8-2 GPAC)
Wednesday, Oct. 21 | 7:30 p.m. CT
Pink Night
Site: Walz Arena (1,400)
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
MATCH INFO
No. 15 Concordia University (20-5, 8-2 GPAC) at Dakota Wesleyan University (11-13, 2-8 GPAC)
Friday, Oct. 23 | 7:30 p.m. CT
Site: The Corn Palace (3,200) | Mitchell, S.D.
Live Stats: Stretch Internet
Webcast: Stretch Internet
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
MATCH INFO
No. 15 Concordia University (20-5, 8-2 GPAC) at Mount Marty College (7-15, 2-9 GPAC)
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 1:30 p.m. CT
Site: Laddie E. Cimpl Arena (1,400) | Yankton, S.D.
Live Stats: Stretch Internet
Webcast: Stretch Internet
Pink Night
On Wednesday, Oct. 21 the match vs College of Saint Mary has been named the Pink Night match for the 2015 year. During the match, community members can participate in a silent auction with proceeds going to the Pink Bandanas non-profit organization that helps families from Nebraska who have been affected by breast cancer. There will also be numerous giveaways during game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the match to show support.
Last time out
Second-ranked Midland entered Wednesday night’s battle undefeated and just one victory away from a program record winning streak. But the 17th-ranked Bulldogs were nails on the road, rallying back from a 2-1 deficit to snatch one of the more meaningful victories in the history of the Concordia University volleyball program. The Bulldogs won it in five, 25-23, 19-25, 14-25, 25-23, 15-11, inside the jam-packed Event Center in Fremont, Neb.
In the rankings
For the first time since the preseason poll in 2001, the Concordia volleyball team was ranked in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll. Announced Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 18 in the nation after defeating three top 25 ranked teams this season. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Bulldogs improved to No. 17. The Bulldogs then went on to defeat No. 2 Midland University in five sets, helping boost themselves to No. 15 in the Oct. 20 poll.
As a team in the GPAC, the Bulldogs rank second in total kills (1,215), third in hitting percentage (.235), kills per set (13.5), total assists (1,087), total service aces (154) and service aces per set (1.7) and fourth in assists per set (12.1).
Nationally, the squad ranks 18th in k ills per set (13.5), 23rd in assists per set (12.08), 23rd in hitting percentage (.235), 38t in total kills (1,215) and 41st in total assists (1,087).
Individual rankings in the GPAC
Annie Friesen: blocks per set, eighth (.90); total blocks, sixth 81)
Jocelyn Garcia: service aces per set, tied for second (0.5); total service aces, second (43); digs per set, eighth (4.1); total digs, ninth (367)
Alayna Kavanaugh: assists per set, fourth (10.6); total assists, third (944)
Claire White: service aces per set, tied for fifth (0.4); total service aces, tied for seventh (31)
National individual rankings
Jocelyn Garcia: total service aces, 28th (43); service aces per set, 47th (.48)
Alayna Kavanaugh: assists per set, 13th (10.61); total assists, 18th (944)
Concordia vs. the top 25
In 2014 Concordia broke through with its first win over a ranked opponent since 2007. The Bulldogs wound up with three top 25 wins in 2014, making victims of No. 14 Oklahoma Baptist, No. 18 Hastings and No. 21 Dordt. Concordia went 3-7 overall against ranked teams last season. Five of those seven losses were against squads rated inside the top 10.
This season, the Bulldogs are 5-2 vs ranked opponents after defeating No. 19 Hastings at home, 3-0, No. 20 Montana Tech University, 3-2 in Hastings, No. 24 Doane, 3-0, No. 11 Northwestern, 3-2 and No. 2 Midland on the road. The losses to ranked teams this season were to No. 4 Midland University, 0-3 and No. 21 Hastings College, 0-3.
Quotable
“I have nothing intelligent to say right now other than, wow. I'm so proud of these girls. For us to beat the No. 2 team in the country by out-blocking them and defending like crazy is simply amazing.”
-Head Coach Scott Mattera on the win vs No. 2 Midland University
Scouting the College of Saint Mary Flames
The Flames of College of Saint Mary will carry a 10-13 (1-10 GPAC) record into Wednesday night’s match. The Flames have beaten GPAC opponent Nebraska Wesleyan University, 3-0 earlier this season. The Bulldogs and Flames have met once this season when the ‘Dogs prevailed in four sets. CSM averages 11.86 kills and 1.04 service aces per set. As a team, the Flames lead the GPAC in digs per set (18.24) and in total digs (1,514). Nationally, the team ranks in these categories as well, coming in at 11th in digs per set and 49th in total digs. Individually, Mallory Babic ranks 22nd in kills per game (3.78) nationally and Cassidy Yong ranks 24th in assists per game (10.09) in the nation. The Flames are led by Samantha Hammond who is her sixth season at College of Saint Mary. Hammond is assisted by Cola Svec, Brianne Sullivan and Kaylee Wallace.
Scouting the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers
The Tigers of Dakota Wesleyan University own an 11-13 (2-8 GPAC) record so far this year. GPAC wins have been over Morningside (3-1) and Mount Marty (3-2). The Tigers average 12.26 kills a set with a hitting percentage of .193. DWU ranks third in the GPAC in digs per set (16.2). The Tigers also rank 34th in assists per set (11.74), 47th in kills per set 12.4) and 49th in digs per set (16.23) nationally. Individually in the nation, Lauren Tadlock ranks 22nd in kills per set (3.78) and 32nd in total kills (329). Sammy Fluck ranks 37th in blocks per set (1.07) and 48th in total blocks (89). The Tigers are led by head coach Lindsay Wilber who is in her second season at Dakota Wesleyan University. Wilber is assisted by Katrina Talley.
Scouting the Mount Marty Lancers
The Lancers of Mount Marty College are 7-16 (2-9 GPAC) on the season so far. The Lancers have beaten GPAC opponents, Morningside (3-0) and College of Saint Mary (3-0) this year. Mount Marty is ranked fifth in the GPAC in service aces per set at 1.5 and ranked fourth in total digs with 1,397. Nationally, Seirra Kloth ranks 41st in total service aces (40) and 47th in service aces per set (.480). The Lancers average 11.32 kills and 1.45 service aces per set. The Lancers are led by head coach Frank Hebenstreit who is in his first year at Mount Marty College. Hebenstreit is assisted by Shanna Ibarolle-Koenig and Roxanne Ross.
Up next for the Bulldogs
The No. 15 Bulldog volleyball team will stay in Seward for two GPAC matches next week. Doane College will pay a visit to Walz Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. In the last meeting between the Tigers and Bulldogs, CUNE defeated Doane 3-0 in Crete. On Saturday, Oct. 31, Dordt College will come to Concordia’s campus for a 5 p.m. start time.
