SEWARD, Neb. – Without a midweek match, the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team has a chance to process its five-set loss that came at the hands of No. 1 Northwestern inside a frenzied Friedrich Arena this past homecoming Saturday. The Bulldogs pushed the Red Raiders to the brink while nearly pulling off a second win this season over a team ranked No. 1 in the NAIA. After remaining close to home last week, Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad now prepares for its lengthiest road trip within conference play. Concordia will be headed to new GPAC member Waldorf on Friday before quickly turning around and playing at Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday.
This Week
Friday, Oct. 4 at Waldorf (8-7, 2-4 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Hanson Fieldhouse (Forest City, Iowa)
Saturday, Oct. 5 at Dakota Wesleyan (8-8, 3-2 GPAC), 3 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Christen Family Athletic Center (Mitchell, S.D.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs (12-2, 5-1 GPAC) made a strong run at defeating a No. 1-ranked team for the second time this season. Back on Aug. 24, Concordia outlasted top-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University (defending NAIA national champion) in five sets in a contest that took place in Columbia, Mo. Last week’s setback puts the Bulldogs one game behind Northwestern (16-0, 6-0 GPAC) atop the league standings. Concordia is tied with Midland (9-7, 5-1 GPAC) for second place while Dordt (10-7, 4-2 GPAC) and Dakota Wesleyan (8-8, 3-2 GPAC) have two league losses apiece. The only losses this season for the Bulldogs have come against top 10 foes: No. 1 Northwestern and No. 8 Bellevue University. Based on the most recent poll, Concordia has knocked off four NAIA top 25 opponents.
· The top five matchup with Northwestern lived up to its billing. Ultimately, the Red Raiders came away victorious, 25-17, 16-25, 16-25, 25-15, 15-12, in a display of high-level volleyball. Interestingly, each of the first four sets ended in lopsided fashion. After Northwestern had its way in the first set, Concordia responded by hitting .235 in the second set and .517 in the third set. The Bulldogs were balanced as four players notched exactly 12 kills: Ashley Keck, Addie Kirkegaard, Gabi Nordaker and Kya Scott. Other statistical leaders for Concordia included Becca Gebhardt in digs (13), Kirkegaard and Nordaker in blocks (five), Savannah Shelburne in aces (two) and Lily Psencik in assists (27). Four of the past five Concordia-Northwestern matchups have gone to five sets.
· Keck accomplished a rare feat last week in being named the GPAC Attacker and Defender of the Week, courtesy of her efforts in the win over Hastings on Sept. 21. As part of a standout season for the Kearney, Neb., native, Keck has totaled 160 kills (3.20 per set) and 160 digs (3.20 per set) while hitting .238 from the outside. A Second Team All-GPAC honoree in 2023, Keck has produced career totals of 857 service receptions, 760 kills, 524 digs and 59 blocks.
· Concordia finished with hitting percentages of .300 at Doane (straight sets win on Sept. 25) and .204 versus Northwestern. On the NAIA national leaderboard, the Bulldogs rank No. 3 in kills per set (13.96) and 13th in hitting percentage (.242). Among GPAC players, Nordaker ranks third in blocks per set (1.22), Keck ranks seventh in kills per set (3.20), Gebhardt ranks 11th in digs per set (3.61) and Ella Waters ranks 15th in kills per set (2.82). There are four Concordia players who have more than 100 kills this season: Keck (160), Waters (141), Kirkegaard (117) and Nordaker (111). Scott is knocking on the door with 94 kills.
· Dating back to October 2022, the Bulldogs have gone 24-4 in their past 28 GPAC regular season outings. That stretch includes the 14-2 league mark Concordia posted in 2023 as part of a shared GPAC regular season title run. The Bulldogs also have put together a fine run at home, where they are 5-1 in 2024. During the tenure of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have posted respective home records of 9-4 in 2018, 11-2 in 2019, 10-1 in 2020, 6-5 in 2021, 11-1 in 2022 and 13-1 in 2023. The totals add up to a collective home record of 65-15 from 2018 through the present.
· Concordia will play Waldorf for the first time since the Warriors joined the GPAC. The two programs met most recently in 2019 when Waldorf appeared at Friedrich Arena for the Bulldog Bash. Concordia won that meeting, 25-17, 25-12, 25-23, behind a team high 12 kills from Kara Stark. The Bulldogs are much more familiar with Saturday’s opponent, Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia took both 2023 meetings with the Tigers in straight sets.
The opponents
Waldorf officially became a GPAC member over the summer. The Warriors are sitting at 8-7 overall (2-4) GPAC after claiming a four-set road win over College of Saint Mary over the weekend. Waldorf has also beaten Briar Cliff within conference play. The Warriors have a challenging weekend ahead as they host both No. 4 Concordia and No. 20 Midland. Head Coach Bri Ebenhoe is in her eighth season leading the program, which is coming off a 12-15 mark in 2023. The team’s leading attacker is Kenzie Kidd, who is hitting .240 while averaging 3.06 kills per set (162 total kills). As a team, Waldorf is hitting .150 while its opponents are hitting .174. The Warriors are located in Forest City, Iowa.
Dakota Wesleyan enters the week at 8-8 overall (3-2 GPAC) after finishing 2023 at 19-15 overall (8-8 GPAC). The Tigers enjoyed a major breakthrough in 2021 and 2022 when they won 25 matches both seasons and finished both campaigns at the national tournament. DWU graduated All-American middle blocker Ady Dwight but did return Second Team All-GPAC setter Kayleigh Hybertson. So far in conference play, the Tigers have claimed wins over Waldorf, Briar Cliff and Morningside. Before hosting Concordia on Saturday, DWU will welcome Midland to town on Friday. The team’s top attacker has been outside hitter Abigail Brunsing (156 kills). Head Coach Lindsay Wilber is in her 11th season at the helm of the program.
Next week
In continuing the Friday-Saturday alignment, the Bulldogs will host the GPAC’s two Sioux City league members over the Oct. 11-12 weekend. Concordia will take on Briar Cliff on Oct. 11 before hosting No. 21 Morningside on Oct. 12.