SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off a 2-0 week, the Concordia University Volleyball team now focuses its attention on Saturday’s road match at College of Saint Mary. First serve from Omaha is set for 5 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs will not be hosting Mount Marty on Wednesday as originally scheduled. That match has been postponed with a makeup date yet to be determined.
Saturday, Sept. 26 at College of Saint Mary (7-1, 2-1), 5 p.m.
-Live Webcast
Head Coach Ben Boldt appears to have a GPAC title contender in his third season leading the program. In terms of winning sets, Concordia is a perfect 9-for-9 while taking care of Midland, Doane and Hastings to begin the season. The Bulldogs put together their most dominant win to date in last week’s venture to Crete. Concordia smoldered on the attack to the tune of a .424 hitting percentage. Five Bulldogs collected at least seven kills: Gabi Nordaker (10), Arleigh Costello (nine), Kara Stark (nine), Kalee Wiltfong (nine) and Camryn Opfer (seven).
Nordaker has been a big-time addition at middle blocker. Named GPAC Attacker of the Week, the Millard West High School product paces the conference in both hitting percentage (.552) and blocks per set (1.67) while ranking second in kills per set (3.89). Sophomore outside hitter Camryn Opfer checks in at No. 5 in the GPAC in hitting percentage (.344). As a team, Concordia sports national rankings of fourth in kills per set (14.67), sixth in hitting percentage (.291) and 14th in blocks per set (2.33). Senior setter Tara Callahan ranks second nationally in assists per set (12.22) as the facilitator of the attack.
The Bulldogs are 3-0 to begin GPAC play for the first time since 2015. The only Concordia volleyball team to start 4-0 in conference play during the GPAC era was the 2000 squad that went on to share the regular-season title. The ’00 team jumped out to a 6-0 GPAC mark before finally suffering a conference loss (at home to Dordt). Currently, the Bulldogs are one of eight unbeaten teams in the NAIA that have played at least three matches. Ninety-nine NAIA volleyball teams have at least begun their 2020-21 seasons.
College of Saint Mary has had one of the most active schedules in the nation in terms of quantity of matches. Its only loss during a 7-1 start occurred at Hastings on Sept. 9. The Flames were picked sixth in the GPAC preseason poll. They are led by Rick Pruett, now in his fourth season as head coach of the program. CSM returns two honorable mention all-conference hitters in Elizabeth Dlouhy and Makenna Freeman. Named GPAC Setter of the Week, Lauren Anderson is the NAIA national leader for total number of assists (320). Concordia has won the last two and four of the past five meetings versus the Flames.
In next week’s action, the Bulldogs will take on Midland (2-3, 1-2 GPAC) for the second time in three weeks. That match is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on Sept. 30. Concordia is also scheduled to be at Mount Marty (5-6, 0-2 GPAC) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2.