SEWARD, Neb. – A challenging run through nonconference play has concluded as the fourth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team looks ahead to the grind of the GPAC. The Bulldogs will begin conference play on Wednesday with a trip to Mount Marty. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad stands at 7-1 after going 2-1 this past weekend at the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic. Concordia shook off its first defeat of the season (a straight-sets loss to No. 14 Bellevue University) by earning a four-set win over No. 5 Viterbo University (Wis.) and then a straight-sets victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State University during the stay in Omaha.
This Week
Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Mount Marty (7-1, 0-0 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
--Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Cimpl Arena (Yankton, S.D.)
Saturday, Sept. 7 – Bye
By the numbers
· According to Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs have played the NAIA’s 18th most difficult schedule as the calendar flips to September. Concordia is already putting together a strong résumé that includes three wins over NAIA top 10 opponents: No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University, No. 5 Viterbo and No. 7 Columbia College (Mo.). In addition, the Bulldogs have dominated the unranked foes they have played, winning in straight sets over the likes of Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho), Oklahoma City University, MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) and Oklahoma Panhandle State. Concordia is in the midst of seven-straight matches away from home after it hosted the Bulldog Bash Aug. 16-17.
· On day one of the CSM Labor Day Classic, the Bulldogs ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Bellevue. Concordia was outhit by the Bruins, .211 to .083. The Boldts chalked it up as a learning experience. Growth was shown as the Bulldogs bounced back the next day to claim wins over Viterbo and Oklahoma Panhandle State. Concordia dropped the first set to the V-Hawks before stepping on the gas. Individual statistical leaders over the past weekend included Gabi Nordaker in kills (26) and blocks (11), Becca Gebhardt in digs (32), Savannah Shelburne in assists (63) and Cassidy Knust in aces (five). Four other Bulldogs totaled at least 19 kills on the weekend: Ella Waters (25), Ashley Keck (21), Kya Scott (21) and Addie Kirkegaard (19).
· The balanced attacking of Concordia again makes it one of the nation’s most difficult teams to defend. Entering the week, the Bulldogs boast NAIA national rankings of fifth in kills per set (14.0) and tied for 16th in hitting percentage (.247). There are five Concordia hitters who have produced more than 50 kills through the season’s first eight matches: Waters (85), Keck (79), Nordaker (66), Kirkegaard (61) and Scott (57). Among those attackers, Nordaker owns the highest hitting percentage at .336.
· The two-time All-American Nordaker keeps adding to her career totals. In 122 career collegiate matches, Nordaker has totaled 1,226 kills and 491 blocks. In the history of the program, there are only two other players who have tallied at least that many kills and blocks – Katie Werner (1,600 kills and 787 blocks) and Rachel Kirchner (1,315 kills and 760 blocks). As part of last week’s action, Nordaker passed Darcy Lindner (1,204 kills) for No. 7 on the program’s all-time kills list. Nordaker has earned four All-GPAC awards (three first-team mentions) in her career.
· The 6-2 system continues to help pave the way for attacking success. So far this season, Shelburne is averaging 6.41 assists per set and Lily Psencik is averaging 5.48 assists per set. As Boldt has mentioned, the system allows Concordia to always have three attacking options in the front row. The two-setter arrangement is a departure from previous years when the Bulldogs made use of the talents of All-American setters Tara Callahan and Bree Burtwistle. Like Burtwistle, Shelburne and Psencik were ready when called upon to take on larger roles.
· As Nordaker climbs the program kills and blocks lists, the senior libero Gebhardt is doing the same on the digs list. In 99 career matches, the native of Norfolk, Neb., has tallied 1,323 digs for the seventh most in school history. It’s also the third highest digs total during the tenure of the Boldts, behind only Camryn Opfer (1,671) and Marissa Hoerman (1,437). Gebhardt’s career stat line also includes 1,336 service receptions (out of 1,388 chances) and 62 aces.
The opponent
Pegged 10th in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, Mount Marty has raced out to a 7-1 start of its own. This past weekend in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the Lancers went 4-0 with wins over Graceland University (Iowa), Tabor College (Kan.), William Penn University (Iowa) and Culver-Stockton College (Mo.). Through eight matches, Mount Marty is hitting .215 with an average of 13.97 kills per set while its opponents are hitting .121 with an average of 10.38 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 freshman outside hitter Jaya Wachholtz, who is averaging 3.62 kills per set. The Lancers graduated their two All-GPAC honorees from a year ago: defensive specialist Ivy Mines and setter Ally Whitmire. After hosting Concordia on Wednesday, Mount Marty will welcome Morningside to Yankton on Saturday.
Next week
There will be some home cooking next week as the Bulldogs will entertain College of Saint Mary on Sept. 11 and Midland on Sept. 14. It will be parents weekend when Concordia hosts the Warriors.