It didn’t take much convincing when it came to Gabi Nordaker. Another year of college volleyball? Sign me up! That’s essentially how things went down for the Millard West High School product. She is one of those student-athletes who entered the world of college athletics during the decidedly awkward and chaotic year of 2020. From an athletic eligibility standpoint, Nordaker’s freshman season never even counted.
That means coaches Ben and Angie Boldt will be able to count on Nordaker for one more season in the middle. She follows the lead of other program All-Americans such as Tara Callahan, Bree Burtwistle and Camryn Opfer, each of whom also chose to enact the ‘COVID Year’ of eligibility.
Says Nordaker, “Pretty much right away when I knew that my freshman class had a chance to come back for a fifth year, I was already thinking about doing it. What really drove me was the love for the game. In the end, it was that combined with the love for my teammates. That’s why I really want to come back. I’ve made some great friendships over the years and continuing to build those relationships is really important to me.”
It won’t shock anyone who knows Nordaker that she’s decided to go this route. She appears destined to pursue her passions as a volleyball lifer. Whatever the sport has in store for her beyond the student-athlete experience, it can wait. The two-time NAIA All-American has more to give to her teammates and coaches and to Concordia Volleyball. Likely one of the most experienced collegiate players in the entire country entering the 2024 campaign, Nordaker has tallied 1,160 kills and 458 blocks in 114 career matches for a program that has won at an elite level.
This past May, Nordaker walked across the stage at graduation having earned her degree in Exercise Science. She wanted that moment with her fellow classmates regardless of her future intentions. To be sure, Nordaker knew she was coming back for quite some time. She made it official on senior day of 2023 as she and seven other seniors were honored. This wasn’t just a volleyball decision. The plan for Nordaker was to pursue a master’s in Athletic Administration while taking advantage of a chance for one more year surrounded by the teammates she loves.
“Seems like she’s been here just as long as we have,” said Ben Boldt, who will enter his seventh season as head coach. “She was part of one of our first recruiting classes. She’s been here a long time, and she knows the ropes. We’ve set out a challenge for her to continue to get better. I think she’s had a great mentality through the offseason. This summer so far, she’s been killing it in the weight room. I think she has a really good mentality going into this last go-round for her. She’s someone that just loves volleyball. I think she’ll probably be a coach. I’m not sure where exactly she’ll finish in volleyball as a player. We’ll see what happens, but we’re certainly excited to have her back for another year.”
Over her first four seasons, Nordaker has been a key member during the golden age of a program that has become known for powerful and efficient attacking. She earned a third career First Team All-GPAC award for a 2023 squad that rose as high as No. 1 in the NAIA coaches’ poll (first time ever) and claimed a share of the GPAC regular season title (first for the program since 2000). Twice Nordaker has helped lead the Bulldogs to the national quarterfinals (2020 and 2021), which is as far as any team in program history has advanced.
Last season’s run ended sooner than anyone inside the program anticipated, and there’s always another carrot out there a competitor like Nordaker is striving to reach. Said Nordaker, “The past three years we’ve made it to the GPAC (postseason) championship and we haven’t been able to come through. The biggest goal for me is to reach that point but win this time. Of course if I’m talking about individual goals, blocking has always been a point of struggle for me. I really want to come out strong this season in that area and have a good blocking game.”
For the most part, Nordaker and her fellow teammates won’t talk much about tangible results, which are the byproducts of the daily process. It’s noteworthy that Nordaker’s motivation for returning had little to do with what round of the national tournament previous teams reached. Along those same lines, the Bulldogs aren’t dwelling on how last season ended. Rather, they are looking forward to coming back together in August and forming a new identity.
The emotions and feelings that result from close relationships are longer lasting than the ones that come out of any win or loss. Nordaker believes the 2024 season will yield a continuation and strengthening of the bonds that have made the program one of the shining examples throughout the NAIA.
“I think this team is coming along great,” Nordaker said. “The incoming seniors are very hands on. They love social interaction. Any time we can all spend time together as a team is a chance we’re going to take. We’ve done a lot of team bonding that has been player-led, and I think that’s great. Also this spring, we’ve worked on spreading out and making sure all classes are getting to know each other. We’re trying to make us all one cohesive team and that comes from spending time together outside of the gym.”
Those fourth-year seniors of 2024-25 would do well to take after Nordaker, a consistent force for each of her four seasons as a Bulldog. She’ll have the opportunity to achieve something Opfer also accomplished: collect five GPAC All-Conference awards. At the same time, Nordaker will adjust to having a new setter (perhaps a two-setter system) while the program absorbs the same lofty expectations it’s become accustomed to.
Lead Concordia deeper than the national quarterfinals and Nordaker’s star would grow even brighter. However, that isn’t what she’s focused on, especially not at the very beginning of a new season.
“After last fall, I was feeling so incredibly grateful that I was coming back and was able to spend an extra season with all the girls,” Nordaker said. “I get to continue these relationships. That’s really the biggest thing. The volleyball part is great. We’re a great program and I get another season with Ben, Angie and Corina. That’s awesome. I’m really coming back to be with my teammates for one more season.”
Once the 2024 season is in the books, Nordaker will have more time to map out what the path might look like beyond life as a Concordia Bulldog. She may not be finished playing volleyball.
Says Nordaker, “I have so many different options that I have talked about with my parents and Ben and Angie. I don’t feel like I’m done yet, even though I’m going into my fifth year. It just doesn't feel like I’m done playing. Now that there are all these opportunities in the United States to play in a pro league, I thought about trying out for that. There are also overseas pro leagues. If my mind changes, I’m going to have a master’s in college Athletic Administration. I would like to be in the college volleyball scene, whether that be in coaching or operations. I don’t think I will ever leave the game of volleyball. I always want to have one foot in.”