SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time in the history of the program, Concordia University Volleyball hosted a matchup between top five combatants. Unfortunately, arch nemesis Midland spoiled the evening on a night that was more about blocking and gritty defensive play than it was about thunderous attacks. The fifth-ranked Bulldogs were limited to 31 kills for the evening on Tuesday (Nov. 1) as the No. 4 Warriors emerged with the win, 25-20, 25-23, 25-23, in Seward.
This marked the final night of regular season action across the GPAC. The defeat puts Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad at 21-4 overall (12-4 GPAC) heading into the conference tournament. Concordia finished third in the regular season standings.
“We didn’t play our best game. They were a little bit more aggressive,” Boldt said. “Our message was to stay aggressive. I thought we were trying to do that, but we didn’t have the rhythm tonight. In the third set when it was point-for-point – that’s kind of how it was all night – we weren’t making things happen. That was the message, ‘We’ve got to make things happen here.’ We started doing it in the last 15 points there. I thought our energy got a lot better and I was proud of how they finished, but we have to start that sooner.”
The Bulldogs had to be at the top of their game to take out an opponent like Midland. However, Concordia’s NAIA top-ranked offensive attack (in terms of hitting percentage) didn’t operate with the surgical precision it has most of the fall. The Warriors (24-3, 14-2 GPAC) certainly had something to do with that as they collected 48 digs and seven blocks. It was a bit of a sign of things to come when the Bulldogs had more hitting errors (12) than kills (11) in the opening set.
Concordia hung in there in each set because of its blocking and overall strong defensive performance. The Bulldogs piled up 13 blocks and did not relinquish a single service ace. Four Concordia players were in on multiple blocks: Carly Rodaway (four), Gabi Nordaker (four), Camryn Opfer (four) and Kalee Wiltfong (two). It just wasn’t quite enough to overcome some ugly hitting percentages. In the back row for Midland, Delanie Vallinch (15 digs) and Taliyah Flores (12 digs) did the job.
Opfer led Concordia with nine kills to go along with 12 digs and four blocks. Nordaker notched eight kills and was limited to .087 hitting. In her return from an injury, Wiltfong started the match and contributed three kills. Setter Bree Burtwistle notched 29 assists, 10 digs and one ace.
Midland ended a 12-match home win streak for the Bulldogs, who had yet to lose on their home court in 2022. The Warriors got double figures in kills from Flores (13) and Abbey Ringler (12). All-American setter Hope Leimbach accumulated 42 assists, nine digs and a block. Midland entered the night with a chance to move into a tie for first place in the final GPAC standings. Because No. 2 Jamestown won at No. 9 Dakota Wesleyan, the Warriors will be the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.
Under the Boldts, Concordia has typically bounced back quickly after a loss. It will try to do the same following Tuesday’s defeat. Said Boldt, “We accept who we are right now and continue to get better. That’s where we’re at.”
Postseason play is up next. As the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, the Bulldogs will host sixth-seeded College of Saint Mary (19-7, 9-7 GPAC) in the quarterfinal round at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. Concordia placed as the 2021 GPAC tournament runner up. The Bulldogs swept both 2022 regular season meetings from the Flames.