SEWARD, Neb. – GPAC play is about to heat up for the Concordia University volleyball team. Fifteen of the final 16 regular-season matches will feature conference battles for the Bulldogs, who enter the fourth week of the season still undefeated. In last week’s action, head coach Ben Boldt’s squad upended No. 14 Hastings before dipping back outside of league play with victories over Graceland University (Iowa), Haskell Indian Nations University (Kan.) and Baker University (Kan.). Concordia now stands at 11-0 with two GPAC clashes on the docket this week.
This Week
Wednesday Sept. 11 at College of Saint Mary (15-3, 1-0 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
Live coverage: Webcast | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. (8) Midland (9-3, 1-0 GPAC), 3 p.m.
Live coverage: Concordia Sports Network | 104.9 Max Country
The new official conference rating just released today (Sept. 9) is evidence that the Bulldogs still have to prove themselves within a loaded conference. In the latest GPAC rating, Concordia remains at No. 8, where it was pegged in the preseason. While the Bulldogs did manage to jump Hastings, they were leapfrogged by College of Saint Mary (rated fifth in the GPAC). Concordia’s placement within the conference poll is in sharp contrast to where it stands in Massey Ratings – No. 6 in the entire NAIA (second behind only Northwestern among GPAC schools). Massey also shows the Bulldogs as having played the nation’s 122nd most challenging schedule.
While the strength of schedule rates relatively low, it has been impressive how Concordia has dominated that slate. Among all NAIA volleyball teams, the Bulldogs rank first in hitting percentage (.300), second in kills per set (14.91) and 42nd in aces per set (2.03). On the individual national leaderboard, Tara Callahan rates third in assists per set (11.69) and Emmie Noyd ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.394) and 25th in kills per set (3.94). In addition, Concordia opponents have 17 service aces compared to 60 service errors.
The veteran core of the roster that includes the likes of Callahan, Noyd, Marissa Hoerman and others has gotten a boost from the freshmen duo of Camryn Opfer and Kalee Wiltfong. A native of Doniphan, Neb., Wiltfong had the best statistical match of her young career to date when she slugged 15 kills and hit .737 in the win over Graceland. Her hitting percentage stands at .409 on the season. Meanwhile, Opfer acquitted herself nicely in her first GPAC match, going for 13 kills and 10 digs versus Hastings.
The Flames also began conference play with a win. They outlasted Morningside in five sets on Sept. 4. This looks like the best squad head coach Rick Pruett has had yet since taking over the program prior to the 2017 season. College of Saint Mary has won five matches in a row, including a five-set triumph over No. 25 Ottawa University (Kan.), since its three-match losing streak. Massey Ratings has the Flames ranked 35th nationally.
Midland has won eight in a row over Concordia and serves as a measuring stick for any program that aspires to be a GPAC championship contender. The Bulldogs nearly upset the Warriors in Fremont last October. Concordia had match point opportunities in the third set. So far this season, Midland has tested itself against four top 10 foes and has gone 1-3 in those matches. The win came in straight sets over No. 5 Viterbo University (Wis.). The Warriors’ leading attacker to this point has been outside hitter Taylor Peterson (129 kills, .244). Midland has a balanced team that ranks favorably in many key statistical categories.
Next week will have the Bulldogs on the road to play at Morningside on Sept. 17 and at Peru State College on Sept. 21.