SEWARD, Neb. – There were some tense moments, but the third-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Volleyball team kept its unblemished October record (6-0) intact. The Bulldogs earned wins last week on the home courts of College of Saint Mary (straight sets) and Dordt (five sets) while remaining in the hunt for a GPAC regular season title. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad improved to 18-2 overall (11-1 GPAC) with four matches remaining in the regular season. In this week’s action, Concordia will host Mount Marty on Wednesday before traveling to play Hastings on Saturday. The Bulldogs will be aiming for regular season sweeps of both opponents.
This Week
Wednesday, Oct. 23 vs. Mount Marty (12-11, 4-8 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
--Pink match for breast cancer awareness.
Saturday, Oct. 26 at Hastings (12-8, 6-5 GPAC), 4:30 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Lynn Farrell Arena (Hastings, Neb.)
By the numbers
· In the latest NAIA coaches’ poll released on Oct. 16, the Bulldogs moved up one spot to No. 3, equaling their highest ranking of the season. Eastern Oregon University dropped from third to fourth following a five-set defeat at the hands of conference rival and fifth-ranked Southern Oregon. Based on the current top 25, Concordia has defeated three nationally ranked foes: No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 14 Viterbo University (Wis.) and No. 18 Midland. The Bulldogs also own wins over two teams listed among other “receiving votes”: Columbia College (Mo.) and Morningside. Both of Concordia’s defeats have come at the hands of current top 10 teams: No. 1 Northwestern and No. 8 Bellevue.
· Last week displayed what a grind the GPAC can be. The Bulldogs shook off a strong push from College of Saint Mary in the first set on Oct. 16 and won in straight sets, 29-27, 25-16, 25-22, in Omaha. As a major highlight, Addie Kirkegaard posted a career high 15 kills (.464 hitting percentage). Three days later, Concordia was forced to play five sets in a road battle with Dordt. The Bulldogs managed to rally back from a 13-11 deficit in the fifth to win, 25-15, 25-23, 14-25, 29-31, 16-14, in Sioux Center, Iowa. Kate Griess emerged with a crucial ace late in that match. Meanwhile, Ella Waters led the attack with 16 kills and a .344 hitting percentage. Ava Greene’s eight bocks at Dordt represented a career high. Concordia is now 3-1 this season in five-set matches.
· In the back row, Becca Gebhardt tallied 33 digs and was near perfect in serve receive (31-for-32). In the win at Dordt, Gebhardt became the fifth player in program history to reach 1,500 career digs. The top four on the list are Becky Ernstmeyer (2,235), Carli Smith (1,761), Camryn Opfer (1,671) and Jocelyn Garcia (1,594). A native of Norfolk, Neb., Gebhardt has twice been named an Honorable Mention All-GPAC selection. She was recognized as the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 8.
· The .347 hitting percentage at CSM represented a season high for the Bulldogs. They have attacked at a .300 or better clip in five other outings in 2024: .339 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State, .305 vs. Viterbo, .301 vs. Oklahoma City, .300 at Doane and .300 at Mount Marty. On the season, Concordia is hitting .241, good for 13th best in the NAIA. The Bulldogs rank No. 2 nationally in kills per set (14.26).
· At 11-1 in GPAC play, Concordia remains one game behind No. 1 Northwestern (23-0, 12-0 GPAC) atop the league standings. The rest of the top five in the GPAC includes Midland (9-3), Dordt (7-5) and Hastings (6-5). Since the start of the 2023 season, the Boldts have led the Bulldogs to a combined GPAC regular season record of 25-3. The 2023 team set a new program standard for conference wins in a season while going 14-2 and sharing the GPAC regular season title. Concordia has clinched an above .500 conference record for the sixth straight season. The Bulldogs are also attempting to do something that has never been done by the program since the GPAC went to a 16-match regular season schedule in 2002 – go undefeated in conference road matches. Concordia is 6-0 this season in GPAC road contests with trips to Hastings and Midland left on the docket.
· Concordia’s statistical leaders by category include Ashley Keck in kills (240), Gabi Nordaker in hitting percentage (.358) and blocks (88), Savannah Shelburne in assists (457) and aces (21) and Becca Gebhardt in digs (287). Among GPAC players, Nordaker ranks first in hitting percentage (.358) and second in blocks per set (1.24), Keck ranks third in kills per set (3.38) and Savannah Shelburne ranks fifth in assists per set (6.18).
The opponents
Pegged 10th in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, Mount Marty raced out to a 7-1 start entering GPAC play. Within conference play, the Lancers have earned wins over Doane (four sets), College of Saint Mary (five sets), Dakota Wesleyan (four sets) and Briar Cliff (three sets). Through 23 matches, Mount Marty is hitting .165 with an average of 12.51 kills per set while its opponents are hitting .173 with an average of 11.55 kills per set. Sophia Lobo Paes is in her fourth season as head coach. The ’23 team finished at 10-21 overall (3-13 GPAC). The team’s leading attacker to this point in the 2024 campaign has been junior outside hitter Julia Weber, who is averaging 3.35 kills per set (fourth most in the GPAC). The Lancers graduated their two All-GPAC honorees from a year ago: defensive specialist Ivy Mines and setter Ally Whitmire. Mount Marty will have this Saturday off from game action.
Picked seventh in the GPAC preseason poll, Hastings returned three All-GPAC players to its lineup: outside hitter Majesta Valasek (second team), defensive specialist Miriam Miller (honorable mention) and outside hitter Ilse Benne (honorable mention). Sixth-year Head Coach Alex Allard took the 2022 team to the national tournament. The Broncos enter this week riding a three-match win streak that includes victories over Dakota Wesleyan (five sets), Waldorf (straight sets) and Briar Cliff (straight sets). Back on Oct. 5, Hastings nearly handed Northwestern its first defeat in a five-set decision in Orange City, Iowa. Miller leads the GPAC in digs per set (6.81) and setter Alexis Pontine paces the conference in assists per set (10.47). Through 20 matches, the Broncos are hitting .183 with an average of 13.19 kills per set while their opponents are hitting .175 with an average of 12.22 kills per set. Hastings will be at Doane on Wednesday before hosting Concordia on Saturday.
Next week
Once this week’s action wraps up, the Bulldogs will be down to two remaining matches in the regular season. Concordia will host Doane on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and will then conclude the regular season at Midland on Tuesday, Nov. 5.