Volleyball moves into national top 15 for first time since 2000
SEWARD, Neb. – A fifth-straight appearance in the Tachikara - NAIA Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll yielded the first top-15 ranking for the Concordia University volleyball program since October of 2000. On Tuesday the Bulldogs checked in at No. 15 in the latest edition of the rankings released by the NAIA.
Since making its first 2015 appearance in the poll on Sept. 22, head coach Scott Mattera’s squad has made a slow ascent up to its current slotting. Concordia has been ranked 18th twice, 17th twice and now 15th. In the GPAC era (2000-present), the program’s highest poll position was 12th during the conference title-winning season of 2000. That was also the most recent season in which the Bulldogs garnered multiple top 25 appearances.
Concordia has earned its lofty rating by going 5-2 against other top 25 foes. It possesses wins over No. 2 Midland, No. 11 Northwestern, No. 19 Hastings, No. 20 Montana Tech and No. 24 Doane.
The Bulldogs (20-5, 8-2 GPAC) host College of Saint Mary (10-13, 1-10 GPAC) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Concordia has deemed the match a “pink out” in support of breast cancer awareness.
