SEWARD, Neb. – After stepping outside of conference play over the weekend, the Concordia University volleyball team now faces GPAC squads for the remainder of the regular season. The Bulldogs will not have to go far this week with a short trek to Doane on Wednesday before they join homecoming festivities by hosting No. 25 College of Saint Mary on Saturday. Head coach Ben Boldt’s squad stands at 13-2 overall (2-2 GPAC).
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Doane (11-6, 2-2), 7:30 p.m.
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Saturday, Sept. 28 at (25) College of Saint Mary (15-7, 1-4), 4:30 p.m.
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Concordia got back into the win column this past Saturday after it suffered back-to-back GPAC losses (at home to No. 9 Midland and at Morningside). The defeat at Morningside came on Sept. 17. In this instance, the Bulldogs were outclassed by the Mustang duo of Emma Gerber and Brittni Olson. Concordia’s .030 hitting percentage represented a season low for an attack that has ranked as one of the best in the nation. The Mustangs (10-4, 2-3 GPAC) were in desperate need of a conference victory after beginning GPAC play at 0-3.
The Bulldogs looked more like the team they had been through the first 12 matches of the season in the second and third sets of the win at Peru State College on Sept. 21. Despite being situated just over 90 miles apart, the two sides had not met since 2016. In the latest matchup, Concordia hit .429 in the second set and .379 in the third set. Emmie Noyd (12 kills, .632) and Arleigh Costello (10 kills, .563) were especially effective on the attack. The Bulldogs have now won 24 matches in a row against nonconference opponents (dating back to the 2017 season).
Despite the tough night last week at Morningside, Concordia still sports impressive ranks. Among all NAIA programs, the Bulldogs rank fourth in hitting percentage (.263) and fourth in kills per set (14.1). Noyd has continued to look like an All-American. Her .366 hitting percentage ranks No. 8 nationally. Junior setter Tara Callahan also sits No. 7 in the NAIA in assists per set (10.94). Four Concordia players have at least 100 kills: Noyd (191), Camryn Opfer (127), Kalee Wiltfong (118) and Kara Stark (105).
The road team won both matchups last season between Concordia and Doane. The Tigers have played all but one match this season away from home (1-0 at the Haddix Center) in a run that has been filled with neutral site events. In conference play, Doane has beaten Morningside (three sets) and College of Saint Mary (three sets) and has lost to Midland (five sets) and Hastings (four sets). The Tigers boast one of the nation’s most prolific outside hitters in Allison Kuenle, who averages 4.1 kills per set.
College of Saint Mary will carry a four-match skid into Saturday’s clash. That string began with a four-set home loss to the Bulldogs. Since then, the Flames have fallen at the hands of Hastings, Midland and Doane. However, head coach Rick Pruett’s squad has shown an ability to hang with NAIA top 25 opponents. College of Saint Mary has three players more than 200 kills, led by the 235 from Makenna Freeman (3.0 kills/set).
In action next week, Concordia will be at Hastings on Oct. 2 and then at No. 9 Midland on Oct. 5.