Volleyball announces 2015 slate complete with 14 home matches
SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off a breakthrough 20-win 2014 campaign, the Concordia University volleyball program has announced varsity and junior varsity schedules for this coming fall. Head coach Scott Mattera, who will enter his fourth season at the helm of the program in 2015, will debut his new squad on Aug. 22 when Bethany College visits Walz Arena.
“We spent a lot of time getting this schedule just where we wanted it and some really cool things fell into place,” Mattera said. “I’m excited to be playing a real match during launch weekend this year along with hosting a home tourney for the first time including both JV and varsity matches.”
For the first time ever, Concordia hosts the “Bulldog Bash” on Sept. 4-5. The event will feature Benedictine College, Bethel College and York College along with Concordia. One varsity match will take place on the first day followed by four matches apiece showcasing varsity and junior varsity teams on day two.
As usual, Concordia will also make an early-season journey to test itself against non-conference opponents. The Bulldogs will take part in the Saint Xavier Tournament in Chicago, Ill., Aug. 28-29, when they go up against foes from Chicago, Indiana and Michigan. In addition, they are again scheduled to participate in the Hastings College Classic (Sept. 11-12).
Using an energized Walz Arena as a boost, Concordia went 10-2 at home last season. The Bulldogs hope to bottle up that same electricity in the 14 regular-season home contests that make up the 2015 schedule.
“With the atmosphere our fans created in Walz last year, every home game is a big event,” Mattera said. “Some highlights would probably be the homecoming day match versus Nebraska Wesleyan after the football game, Pink Night versus Union on the JV side (full 3 out of 5 game match rather than 2 out of 3) and the varsity versus College of Saint Mary should be another big night as we always get great support for that important cause.”
The conference season kicks off on Sept. 9 when Hastings invades Walz. A top-four 2014 conference finish and the return of the bulk of its key players mean Concordia will have increased expectations this fall.
“The GPAC is going to be a monster conference again,” Mattera said. “But we feel like we can be mentioned as a contender after the way we broke through last year and with what we return, but we’ve got a lot of work in front of us to reach those heights.”
Of the six Bulldogs who received some form of all-conference recognition last season, four will be back in the fold in 2015. That list includes first team selections in setter Alayna Kavanaugh and outside hitter Claire White. Outside hitter Paige Getz and right side Tiegen Skains (both honorable mention) will team up with Kavanaugh and White on what figures to be another formidable offensive attack.
