SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time this season, the Concordia University volleyball team is looking to bounce back from a loss. The Bulldogs were edged out in five sets by ninth-ranked Midland to close last week’s action. Three days earlier, head coach Ben Boldt’s squad picked up a road win over No. 25 College of Saint Mary. Concordia will be back on the road for both of its matches this week.
This Week
Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Morningside (8-4, 0-3), 7:30 p.m.
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Saturday, Sept. 21 at Peru State (3-13), 2 p.m.
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The Bulldogs (12-1, 2-1 GPAC) know they are headed in the right direction. As Boldt put it following the loss to Midland, “We’re a team that’s growing up.” It doesn’t hurt to have a senior like middle blocker Emmie Noyd leading the way. There were times again last week during which she appeared nearly unstoppable. She went off for eight of her match high 20 kills in the third set versus Midland. Among all NAIA players, Noyd ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.376) and 18th in kills per set (4.0). The native of Shelby, Neb., also added 14 blocks last week (45 for the season).
Last week’s performances could help Concordia gain greater respect in the national poll. Despite being ranked in the top 10 of the NAIA by Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs have not yet received votes in the official NAIA poll – likely due to lowly rated strength of schedule. However, Concordia now has three wins over opponents that were ranked at the time matches were contested: No. 14 Hastings, No. 19 Corban University (Ore.) and No. 25 College of Saint Mary. In the poll released on Sept. 11, Corban shot up eight spots to No. 11.
The Bulldogs will try to shore up an area of their game that had been a strength prior to the Midland match – serving and passing. The Warriors escaped Walz with a victory mostly because of advantages in those areas. Boldt called Midland’s serving the best his team has seen this season. The Warriors wound up with 11 aces (Concordia had four aces to nine service errors). When the Bulldogs play clean, they can set things up nicely for one of the nation’s best attacks. Concordia ranks second nationally in hitting percentage (.282) with the help of the NAIA National Setter of the Week, Tara Callahan.
Morningside may have started GPAC play with three-straight losses, but no team in this conference is to be taken lightly. The Mustangs made a splash in August with a couple of wins over ranked foes (No. 13 Rocky Mountain and No. 25 Ottawa). Morningside excels in many areas and has one of the nation’s top blockers in Emma Gerber (No. 13 in the NAIA in blocks/set). Among all NAIA teams, it ranks eighth in kills per set (13.9), 14th in hitting percentage (.230) and 15th in blocks per set (2.39).
On Saturday, Concordia will play a nonconference opponent for the final time this regular season. Peru State has struggled to a 3-13 record with one win (Mount Marty) and two defeats (Midland and Briar Cliff) against GPAC opponents. The Bulldogs and Bobcats last met in 2016 with the result being a straight sets win for Peru State. The Bobcats have been outhit by their opponents, .197 to .144.
Next week will be homecoming on the Concordia campus. The Bulldogs will be at Doane on Sept. 25 before hosting College of Saint Mary on Sept. 28.