SEWARD, Neb. – No matter the opponent, the sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team refuses to relent. The nation’s top-rated attacking team hit visiting Morningside with a flurry that featured 53 kills in what amounted to a 25-17, 25-21, 25-13, victory for the Bulldogs on Saturday (Oct. 1). It was a fitting performance on a day that Concordia honored a senior class of six that has helped the program to unprecedented success.
Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad keeps marching on in machine-like fashion with an incredible match-to-match focus. The Bulldogs have moved to 16-1 overall (7-1 GPAC).
“It’s nice to celebrate the seniors,” Boldt said. “What they’ve meant to the program is immeasurable. They were the first class that committed to us (as recruits). We owe a lot to them in setting a foundation and believing in Angie and I. I’m just really thankful for that.”
The fast and powerful Concordia attack starts with its passing, but there’s something particularly satisfying about the way this team finishes off points. The Bulldogs hit .426 on Saturday while quarterbacked by setter Bree Burtwistle (39 assists). She helped set up five teammates for at least six kills: Carly Rodaway (11), Kalee Wiltfong (10), Ashley Keck (nine), Camryn Opfer (eight) and Gabi Nordaker (six). The Mustangs managed only one block the entire afternoon while being bedazzled by Concordia’s array of hitters.
Morningside (6-15, 2-6 GPAC) gained just a bit of traction in the second set when it hit .250 with 13 kills. However, the Bulldogs always appeared poised and in control. The third set became a complete runaway. During that stretch, Concordia hit .472 with 17 kills and no errors. As the Bulldogs subbed in the likes of Bree Green (six assists) and Shelby Stark (four kills), the team kept humming.
Said Wiltfong, “It’s so much fun. It’s awesome. It’s really cool to see all the hard work we put in since January to get to this point. Our team chemistry is just unreal. I never imagined playing with this tight of a team ever. They’re all my best friends.”
Just when you’d think it’s about time for this Concordia team to cool off, it just keeps heating up. The Bulldogs are now hitting a smoldering .296 for the season.
“Every time I keep looking at the stats, we have a high hitting percentage,” Boldt said. “We’re never going to take that for granted, but we’re going to continue to talk to our hitters about putting themselves in good positions to attack. Burt’s doing a really good job of dishing it.”
Rebecca Gebhardt (14) and Opfer (12) both reached double figures in digs. If there was just one thing to nitpick for the Bulldogs, it was their 10 service errors. Those miscues accounted for nearly 20 percent of Morningside’s points in the match. The Mustangs got a team high 10 kills apiece from Sydney Marlow and Claire Wilson.
The seniors honored prior to first serve were Bree Burtwistle, Bree Green, Mary Nibbe, Camryn Opfer, Kennedy VanScoy and Kalee Wiltfong. That group is looking to lead Concordia back to the national tournament for a fourth straight season.
The lengthiest road trip of the conference season is coming up next weekend as the Bulldogs will travel to play No. 2 Jamestown (18-1, 6-0 GPAC) in a mega showdown at 7:30 p.m. CT on Oct. 7. The very next day, Concordia will be at No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan (13-4, 5-3 GPAC) for a 3 p.m. first serve. The meeting in Jamestown will be a rematch of the 2021 GPAC tournament championship battle.