2021 Volleyball Schedule/Results

19-12 overall | 9-7 GPAC (T-5th) | Season Stats | Roster

Date	Opponent	Location	Time/Result	Record
Aug. 25	*Mount Marty University	Seward, Neb.	W, 3-0	1-0, 1-0
	Bulldog Bash: Aug. 28
Aug. 28	Baker University (Kan.)	Seward, Neb.	W, 3-0	2-0
Aug. 28	(12) Bellevue University	Seward, Neb.	L, 2-3	2-1
Sept. 1	*(23) College of Saint Mary	Omaha, Neb.	L, 2-3	2-2, 1-1
	Bellevue University Tournament: Sept. 3-4
Sept. 3	(19) Oklahoma City University	Bellevue, Neb.	W, 3-0	3-2
Sept. 3	(17) Montana Tech	Bellevue, Neb.	W, 3-1	4-2
Sept. 4	(10) University of Providence (Mont.)	Bellevue, Neb.	L, 0-3	4-3
Sept. 8	*(3) Midland University	Seward, Neb.	L, 0-3	4-4, 1-2
	Baker University Tournament: Sept. 10-11
Sept. 10	Columbia College (Mo.)	Baldwin City, Kan.	L, 2-3	4-5
Sept. 11	(18) Ottawa University (Kan.)	Baldwin City, Kan.	W, 3-0	5-5
Sept. 11	Missouri Valley College	Baldwin City, Kan.	W, 3-0	6-5
Sept. 15	*Doane University	Seward, Neb.	W, 3-1	7-5, 2-2
Sept. 18	*Hastings College	Hastings, Neb.	W, 3-0	8-5, 3-2
Sept. 22	*Mount Marty University	Yankton, S.D.	W, 3-0	9-5, 4-2
Sept. 25	*(17) College of Saint Mary	Seward, Neb.	L, 2-3	9-6, 4-3
Sept. 29	*(3) Midland University	Fremont, Neb.	L, 2-3	9-7, 4-4
Oct. 6	*Doane University	Crete, Neb.	L, 2-3	9-8, 4-5
Oct. 9	*(18) Dordt University	Seward, Neb.	L, 2-3	9-9, 4-6
Oct. 15	*Briar Cliff University	Sioux City, Iowa	W, 3-0	10-9, 5-6
Oct. 16	*Morningside University	Sioux City, Iowa	W, 3-0	11-9, 6-6
Oct. 22	*(1) University of Jamestown	Seward, Neb.	L, 0-3	11-10, 6-7
Oct. 23	*(15) Dakota Wesleyan University	Seward, Neb.	W, 3-2	12-10, 7-7
Oct. 30	*(14) Northwestern College	Orange City, Iowa	W, 3-2	13-10, 8-7
Nov. 2	*Hastings College	Seward, Neb.	W, 3-0	14-10, 9-7
	GPAC Tournament
Nov. 6	(5) Midland University (Quarterfinals)	Fremont, Neb.	W, 3-0	15-10
Nov. 10	(5) College of Saint Mary (Semifinals)	Omaha, Neb.	W, 3-2	16-10
Nov. 13	(1) University of Jamestown (GPAC Championship)	Jamestown, N.D.	L, 0-3	16-11
	NAIA National Tournament
Nov. 20	Ave Maria University (Opening Round)	Seward, Neb.	W, 3-0	17-11
Nov. 30	(25) Oregon Tech (Pool Play)	Sioux City, Iowa	W, 3-1	18-11
Dec. 1	(2) Viterbo University (Pool Play)	Sioux City, Iowa	W, 3-2	19-11
Dec. 2	(7) Marian University (Quarterfinals)	Sioux City, Iowa	L, 2-3	19-12

2021 Roster

No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Year	Hometown	Previous School
1	Bree Green	S/DS	5-8	So.	Gretna, Neb.	Millard West HS
2	Mollie Grosshans	RS	5-10	Fr.	Waverly, Neb.	Waverly HS
3	Bree Burtwistle	S	5-10	So.	Stanton, Neb.	Stanton HS / Midland University
4	Tara Callahan	S/RS	6-1	Sr.	Brady, Neb.	Brady HS
5	Kennedy Vanscoy	DS	5-3	So.	Waverly, Neb.	Waverly HS
6	Tatum Kuti	RS	5-10	So.	Omaha, Neb.	Omaha Marian HS
7	Cassidy Knust	DS	5-3	Fr.	Aurora, Neb.	Aurora HS
8	Jadeyn Stutzman	DS	5-3	Jr.	Grand Island, Neb.	Grand Island Northwest HS
9	Erica Heinzerling	OH	5-11	Jr.	Ankeny, Iowa	Centennial HS
10	Camryn Opfer	OH	6-0	So.	Seward, Neb.	Seward HS
11	Gabi Nordaker	MB	5-10	Fr.	Omaha, Neb.	Millard West HS
12	Macy McClain	DS	5-6	Fr.	Tempe, Ariz.	Valley Christian HS
13	Arleigh Costello	RS	5-11	Jr.	Gothenburg, Neb.	Gothenburg HS
14	Sarah Huss	MB	6-3	Fr.	Fairbury, Neb.	Fairbury HS
15	Rebecca Gebhardt	OH	5-8	Fr.	Norfolk, Neb.	Lutheran HS Northeast
16	Maddy Watchorn	OH	6-0	Fr.	Dalton, Neb.	Leyton HS
17	Kalee Wiltfong	OH/MB	5-10	So.	Doniphan, Neb.	Doniphan-Trumbull HS
18	DeLaney Novy	DS	5-7	Fr.	Bee, Neb.	Lincoln East HS
19	Morgan Nibbe	MB/RS	6-1	Jr.	Red Cloud, Neb.	Red Cloud HS
20	Shelby Stark	OH	6-2	Fr.	Magnolia, Texas	Concordia Lutheran HS
21	Ashlyn Wischmeier	DS	5-9	Fr.	Kearney, Neb.	Kearney Catholic HS
24	Carly Rodaway	RS	6-0	Fr.	Lincoln, Neb.	Pius X HS / Fort Hays State University
26	Maddy Nagel	MB	6-0	Fr.	Lincoln, Neb.	Lincoln Southwest HS
27	Kelsi Heard	S	5-10	Fr.	Sioux Falls, S.D.	Sioux Falls Christian HS
28	Addison Smith	DS	5-8	Fr.	Seward, Neb.	Seward HS
30	Anna McCoy	OH	5-10	Fr.	Grand Island, Neb.	Grand Island Senior HS
31	Lexie Kreizel	DS	5-5	Fr.	Lincoln, Neb.	Lincoln Lutheran HS
36	Ashtynne Frahm	RS	6-2	Fr.	Omaha, Neb.	Burke HS
	Kayla Ernstmeyer	MB	5-9	Jr.	Lincoln, Neb.	Lincoln Lutheran HS
	Shelby Jones	S	5-8	So.	Ainsworth, Neb.	Ainsworth HS
	Mary Nibbe	S/RS	6-2	So.	Red Cloud, Neb.	Red Cloud HS

STAFF

Ben Boldt, Head Coach

Angie Boldt, Assistant Coach

Kaci Hohenthaner, Graduate Assistant Coach

Concordia lands at No. 4 in GPAC, No. 7 in NAIA preseason polls

Aug. 11, 2021

2021 Preseason Polls: GPAC | NAIA

SEWARD, Neb. – The NAIA national poll streak for the Concordia University Volleyball program carries on into the 2021 preseason. In the NAIA preseason poll released on Wednesday (Aug. 11), the Bulldogs landed at No. 7. A day earlier, Concordia slotted in at fourth in the 2021 GPAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches’ Poll. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s program placed third in the GPAC in both 2019 and 2020.

After posting an 18-5 overall mark and reaching the NAIA national quarterfinals this past spring, the Bulldogs finished last season at No. 8 nationally (highest ranking in program history at the time). Concordia has now appeared in 12-straight NAIA national polls, including each of the six ratings released during the 2020-21 season. The No. 7 position in the preseason now represents a new program best. Boldt has led the Bulldogs to the final site of the national tournament in back-to-back campaigns.

Concordia possesses plenty of firepower with four of last season’s five All-GPAC honorees returning to the 2021 roster. That group includes Tara Callahan (first team), Gabi Nordaker (second team), Camryn Opfer (second team) and Arleigh Costello (honorable mention). Opfer also earned recognition as an NAIA National Championship All-Tournament selection while Callahan collected NAIA Honorable Mention All-America accolades for the second year in a row.

The GPAC is well-represented in the preseason rankings. The following GPAC foes garnered NAIA top 25 spots: No. 2 Jamestown, No. 3 Midland, No. 5 Dordt, No. 10 Northwestern and No. 23 College of Saint Mary.

The 2021 season will open up on Aug. 25 when the Bulldogs welcome Mount Marty to Friedrich Arena for a 7:30 p.m. CT first serve.

Concordia 2020-21 NAIA National Rankings
Feb. 3 – 10th
March 10 – 10th
March 24 – 10th
April 7 – 10th
April 12 – 10th
May 6 – 8th

2021 GPAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches’ Poll
-First-place votes in parentheses

1. Jamestown – 115 (6)
2. Midland – 111 (6)
3. Dordt – 100
4. Concordia – 89
5. Northwestern – 87
6. College of Saint Mary – 62
7. Dakota Wesleyan – 60
8. Hastings – 55
9. Morningside – 48
10. Briar Cliff – 29
11. Doane – 25
12. Mount Marty – 11

Season Preview: 2021 Concordia Volleyball

Aug. 13, 2021

Head Coach: Ben Boldt (58-25, 4th year)
2020 Record: 18-5 overall; 12-3 GPAC (3rd); advanced to national quarterfinals.
Key Returners: S Tara Callahan; RS Arleigh Costello; MB Gabi Nordaker; OH Camryn Opfer; OH Kalee Wiltfong.
Key Losses: DS Marissa Hoerman; DS Erin Johnson; DS Tristin Mason; OH Kara Stark.
2020 NAIA All-America: Tara Callahan (Honorable Mention).
2020 GPAC All-Conference: Tara Callahan (First Team); Camryn Opfer (Second Team); Gabi Nordaker (Second Team); Arleigh Costello (Honorable Mention); Marissa Hoerman (Honorable Mention).

Outlook
It may feel like the most recent Concordia Volleyball season just ended, because it did. The ascending Bulldogs played meaningful matches into late April as part of an out-of-the-ordinary 2020-21 season. The campaign concluded in the NAIA national quarterfinals and with a final NAIA ranking of No. 8. The lofty poll position represented the highest ranking in program history – until this preseason (currently ranked seventh). Now heading into year four leading the program, Head Coach Ben Boldt presides over an outfit that has garnered lofty expectations on the inside and outside of the locker room.

The dynamics of COVID-19 altered the landscape back in the spring, a time when Concordia would normally be focused on individual skill development. The breaking up of the status quo impacted each of the teams that made deep runs in the postseason. Now is the time to lay the groundwork for another potential extended stay in Sioux City.

Says Boldt, “For us, it’s about leaving your fear behind you. Our players know this, but ‘Show Yourself’ is from a song in the movie ‘Frozen 2.’ The character Elsa has dealt with a lot of fear in her past but is someone who has a lot of power inside of her. She gets to this moment where she’s going to show who she is. I really felt like our team did a great job embracing that (in the spring). We’re talking a whole lot about being fearless in the big moments this year. That’s the message that we’re giving to our team.”

The motto of “Show Yourself” spills into this preseason for a Bulldog squad returning plenty of firepower from last season’s group that went 18-5 overall and placed third in the GPAC. Four of the five 2020 All-GPAC honorees return to the 2021 roster: Tara Callahan (first team), Gabi Nordaker (second team), Camryn Opfer (second team) and Arleigh Costello (honorable mention). Callahan will be taking advantage of an opportunity to play a fifth season of college volleyball.

Now a graduate student and a native of Brady, Neb., Callahan has been an instrumental figure in the program’s rise. She experienced the 9-19 campaign of 2017 and the steady climb up the ladder that has occurred since then. At setter, Callahan has earned back-to-back honorable mention All-America awards and is one of those performers that has no fear in big moments.

“Tara’s thought process through the whole thing has been, ‘I’m not done playing,’” Boldt said. “When the ruling first came out that you were able to use your ‘COVID year’ for the next year, we presented that to our players and allowed them to think through it how it fits into their life, and it fit for Tara. That was something that really worked out for her career path. The thing that stood out when she said she wanted to do this is, ‘I’m not done playing. If I can play, I want to play.’ Obviously she’s been a cornerstone of what we’ve been here for a long time. She’s looking to set an example for the next group coming up.”

The trick for Boldt and the coaching staff is to figure out the right mix to deploy. A transfer from Midland, Bree Burtwistle could factor into the equation as a second setter, which would allow for some creativity in how Callahan’s talents are put to use. Of course it would be wise to set the ball to Opfer, who is a do-it-all player who rarely comes off the court. The Seward High School product sizzled during the spring portion of last season and was named to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team. Opfer smashed 238 kills for the season and was one of five Bulldogs with 162 or more kills. The others were Kara Stark (229), Nordaker (218), Kalee Wiltfong (175) and Costello (162).

Naturally, there’s a belief that this can be another special year – emphasis on belief. Says Costello, “A lot of hard work and just belief in ourselves (is what elevated the program). We always knew it was possible, but we also never expected it. I think we’ve always been humble and put our heads down and went to work, and the results came from that. And the mental side we’ve really worked on this last year with Doc (Larry) Widman. We’ve worked on the mental side to get connected, push ourselves and play for each other.”

There always seems to be at least one big impact newcomer, like last season when Nordaker burst onto the scene early on and won an NAIA National Player of the Week award. Nordaker is a candidate to have a big-time second year. Among her shining moments last season, Nordaker slammed 25 kills and had five blocks in the national tournament win over Lindsey Wilson (Ky.).

Boldt has said there is “open competition” at every spot. That seems especially true in the back row, which will move on without four-year libero Marissa Hoerman, who was about as good as any defensive specialist in the GPAC. How the Bulldogs retool in that area could have a lot to say with how far this upcoming journey goes. Not to worry too much, Opfer is also a key contributor in this department.

Healthy competition for time on the court is a good thing. As alluded to, Boldt will have plenty of options on the attack. Said Boldt, “I think they’re going to continue to grow and continue to get pushed from players who weren’t here last year. We’re making the best evaluations that we can. We’re placing some focus on out-of-system attacking. Philosophically we’re talking about how often we’re in-system as a team when it’s a perfect pass – or out-of-system when it’s not a perfect pass. When we get in that position in a match, we can be fearless and be the woman in the big moment. They’re coming along and taking good swings. We’re taking it one day at a time.”

It’s an approach that has served Concordia well. Speaking of serving, that facet of the game, along with passing, are stressed repeatedly by the Boldts. Ben and Angie have a lot of confidence in this group to do those things well. That confidence is communicated with the players.

Says Costello, “They’ve had the must unwavering confidence in me as I’ve grown through the program. I came in not knowing how to do a lot of things, and they’ve been steady in the way they have given me feedback and shifted my mindset to understand it’s not about me. The things that are happening are a process. Doing the reps in practice and transferring those to a game is awesome. We know we’re doing something that is working towards something greater.”

Over the past few years, so many new boxes have been checked off for a program that is still relatively new to this whole status as a top 10 team in the nation. The competition within the GPAC will be fierce as usual, but the challenge of contending for a GPAC title will always be a significant motivator.

“As soon as we got here as a coaching staff, we set a goal to win the conference,” Boldt said. “I took that from our time at Nebraska. That was probably a bigger goal than the national championship because it’s a longer, drawn-out process of the effort it takes and the standards it takes to win a conference championship. In this conference, it’s going to take the best out of you in order to compete for it. We’re not going to live and die on whether we win a conference championship, but we do want to have that level of effort every day and hold ourselves to that standard. When you do that, you prepare yourself for a national championship. That’s a driver behind what we do every day. GPAC championship level effort – that’s what we talk about quite a bit.”

First serve of the 2021 season is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Aug. 25 when Mount Marty will visit Friedrich Arena.

Sixth-ranked Bulldogs hit .352, sweep season opener

Aug. 25, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – A significant home crowd greeted the sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team, fresh off an NAIA national quarterfinal appearance back in the spring. On the attack, the likes of Camryn Opfer and Sara Huss led the way as the Bulldogs got in the win column in their season opener on Wednesday (Aug. 25). Concordia hit .352 on the night and took care of Mount Marty in straight sets, 25-19, 25-12, 25-18.

With the bulk of its power hitters returning from last season, the Bulldogs expect to own the net in the majority of their matches. Head Coach Ben Boldt saw plenty of promising signs as he began his fourth season leading the program.

“I was really glad to see our hitting numbers,” Boldt said. “We were pretty efficient tonight. I thought we made good decisions … It’s fun to see the new ones out there. They’re coming along. The experience they get here is really going to serve them well. It’s fun to see them grow in that whole process.

“We’re going to continue to focus on our core values. I always look at blocking right off the bat. We’re definitely going to have to be sharp on our team defense and making sure we have our hands in the right spot at the right times.”

If Wednesday was any indication, Concordia figures to feature plenty of balance once again. In the kill department, Opfer paced both teams with 11 kills on 25 swings (.320 hitting percentage). She was followed in that category by Huss (10), Shelby Stark (eight), Arleigh Costello (five) and Gabi Nordaker (five). In the first match of her fifth collegiate season, Tara Callahan totaled 32 assists and 10 digs.

On the flip side, the Bulldogs limited the Lancers (0-1) to an .065 hitting percentage. Concordia is working on filling the shoes of four-year libero Marissa Hoerman. Opfer equaled Callahan with 10 digs of her own. Other contributors in the back row included Kennedy VanScoy (six digs) and Tatum Kuti (five digs). A total of 13 Bulldogs saw action on the night.

As a second-year player, Huss has made big strides and looks to provide another weapon in the middle, along with Gabi Nordaker. A second team All-GPAC honoree in 2020, Nordaker topped Concordia with five blocks on Wednesday. One of those blocks put the finishing touches on a dominant second set.

Mount Marty’s losing streak within the conference continues. The Lancers got a team high six kills from Gabby Ruth. They provided some resistance in the third set, playing to a 14-14 draw before the Bulldogs rattled off five-straight points. The run culminated with back-to-back Opfer kills. Mount Marty managed only 25 kills, compared to 43 from the home team.

Concordia will remain at home this weekend and host the Bulldog Bash on Saturday. The Bulldogs will take on Baker University (Kan.) and No. 12 Bellevue University as part of a triangular. Match times are 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. CT.

Bulldogs bash Baker, fall in pulse-pounder with No. 12 Bellevue

Aug. 28, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – Observers at the 2021 Bulldog Bash knew that the featured match of the day loomed in the evening. The battle between sixth-ranked Concordia University and No. 12 Bellevue University lived up to its billing on Saturday (Aug. 28). The visiting Bruins rallied from a slight deficit in the fifth set and held off the Bulldogs, 25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13. Earlier in the day, both Concordia and Bellevue toppled Baker University (Kan.) in straight sets as part of the triangular.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad won two of its three matches during the opening week of the 2021 campaign. Even in defeat in the capper, Boldt noted many positives that his squad can build upon.

“This was a really good top 25 matchup early in the season,” Boldt said. “We lost the first couple of sets – I was happy to see how we came back. The word that keeps coming back for me is this is a gritty team. I feel like we embodied that today. That’s part of our growth process. It’s a good foundation for us heading into the conference season.”

Although separated by less than 75 miles, Concordia and Bellevue had not met up since 2017 when the Bruins also escaped Seward with a five-set win. Already the owner of a victory over previously sixth-ranked Eastern Oregon University, Bellevue looked like it might make it an early night. The Bruins climbed out of a 19-14 hole in the second set with an 11-3 run that could have demoralized the Bulldogs. Camryn Opfer got going in the third set with four kills, including one for set point.

An entertaining fourth set (18 kills for both sides) gave way to a nail-biting fifth set. A timely kill from Morgan Nibbe in the middle helped Concordia mount a 13-11 advantage. Bellevue called timeout, regrouped and rattled off the match’s final four points. The action ended with Eve Fountain’s attack that was judged to have been touched by a Bulldog before landing out of bounds. Fountain paced all players with 18 kills in the match.

Concordia outhit the Bruins slightly, .247 to .238, although Bellevue (5-0) owned the advantage in kills, 71-63. The Bruins also got double-digit kill totals from Jacki Apel (15), Sierra Athen (15) and Haley Fleischman (11).

On the right side, Arleigh Costello put together a fine day that saw her go for nine kills in the win over Baker and then another 14 in the loss to Bellevue. Her combined 23 kills came on 58 swings. Opfer finished with 12 kills and 16 digs in the Bellevue match while Gabi Nordaker racked up 15 kills in Saturday’s second contest.

The Bulldogs controlled play in the tussle with Baker (0-4), a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Tara Callahan produced an eye-popping seven ace serves in that particular match. As a team, Concordia pelted the Wildcats with 13 aces while hitting .310. Costello, Opfer and Sara Huss each collected nine kills in the victory. Callahan finished with 86 assists over eight sets on the day. In addition to her fine attacking efforts, Costello chipped in four blocks in the five-setter.

The matchup with Bellevue was one that should help prepare the Bulldogs for the rigors of the GPAC grind. Concordia continues to break in new pieces in its back row. Freshman DS Cassidy Knust saw increasing court time on Saturday while jumping in along with others such as Rebecca Gebhardt and Tatum Kuti in that department.

Said Boldt, “We’re still trying to figure out what our best lineup is. There’s a maturation process for some of the younger players. We have to continue to figure that out. They’re giving us everything that they got.”

The Bulldogs will return to GPAC play on Wednesday (Sept. 1) when they travel to No. 23 College of Saint Mary (7-1, 0-1 GPAC). First serve of the varsity match is set for 7:30 p.m. CT from Omaha.

Dawgs flamed out in tense five-setter

Sep. 1, 2021

OMAHA, Neb. – One point away from victory in the fourth set on Wednesday (Sept. 1), the sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team failed to finish off No. 23 College of Saint Mary. The Flames rattled off the final four points of the fourth set and then blitzed the Bulldogs in the fifth. Ultimately, Makenna Freeman and the Flames celebrated a come-from-behind victory, 20-25, 22-25, 25-18, 26-24, 15-10, inside the Lied Fitness Center in Omaha.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad also fell in a five-setter in its most recent outing, this past Saturday against No. 12 Bellevue. Per usual, nothing in the GPAC will come easy.

“It was pretty hotly contested throughout the entire match,” Boldt said. “We came out sharp in the beginning. They made some adjustments. In that second set we made a really good push at the end that helped us take that set. It was back-and-forth the entire match. We have to be able to stay sharp for longer periods of time. That’s what we’re learning about ourselves as a program – really embodying the idea of ‘being the woman’ when you need to.”

College of Saint Mary (8-1, 1-1 GPAC) entered the evening with just a single loss (at the hands of No. 3 Midland). Head Coach Rick Pruett’s squad showed some toughness to brush off setbacks in the first two sets when it surrendered a combined 34 kills to the Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1 GPAC). Concordia had its chances to put it on ice in the fourth set, leading 24-22. Freeman and Rosa Reed-Bouley struck for a kill apiece with two Bulldog attack errors sandwiched in-between. Suddenly, it was anyone’s game.

In the fifth set, CSM put away nine kills while Concordia committed six attack errors. The Flames built a 13-4 lead in the set before Gabi Nordaker’s kill ended a 4-0 run. Kamryn Williams later delivered the match-point kill for the home team. The Flames owned an advantage in hitting percentage, .249 to .213, for the night.

Four Bulldogs reached double figures in kills: Camryn Opfer (16), Arleigh Costello (14), Erica Heinzerling (13) and Nordaker (12). In tandem with Nordaker in the middle, Morgan Nibbe added nine kills and five blocks. Five Concordia players posted 10-plus digs: Opfer (15), Tara Callahan (14), Cassidy Knust (13), Kennedy VanScoy (11) and Rebecca Gebhardt (10). Knust had the honor of donning the libero jersey. At setter, Callahan piled up 57 assists and chipped in four kills.

The Bulldogs possess plenty of weapons on the attack. For Boldt, the focus will continue to be on tightening up serving and passing.

“When it comes to serving and defense, we’re going to continue to talk about that stuff,” Boldt said. “When we’re back there serving – we keep our courage, we keep our composure and we stay focused – good things are going to happen. I think we did a good job towards the end of the match. We had a little bit of a lull in the middle of the match.”

Freeman paced both sides with 18 kills. Flames libero Rachel Cushing notched 24 digs. CSM picked up its first win this season over a ranked opponent (has also beaten one team that is receiving votes).

A week inside the NAIA top 25 continues this weekend at the Bellevue Labor Day Classic. In Friday’s action, the Bulldogs will take on No. 19 Oklahoma City University and No. 17 Montana Tech (match times at 3 and 7 p.m. CT). Concordia will also battle No. 10 University of Providence (Mont.) at 1 p.m. on Saturday as part of the event.

Dawgs bounce back with two wins over ranked opponents

Sep. 3, 2021

BELLEVUE, Neb. – The sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team has successfully shrugged off Wednesday’s defeat at College of Saint Mary. Two days later, the Bulldogs claimed wins over two NAIA top 25 teams: No. 19 Oklahoma City University and No. 17 Montana Tech. Both matches were contested inside the Lied Activity Center in Bellevue, Neb., as part of the Bellevue Labor Day Classic on Friday (Sept. 3). Concordia dispatched of Oklahoma City in straight sets and Montana Tech in four.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s program has advanced to the level that it can play a stacked schedule and expect to get results. The Bulldogs have moved to 4-2 overall as they near the end of the second week of the regular season.

“We came out really focused today,” Boldt said. “I think the tough matches we’ve had the last couple times out made us tougher. They are helping us stay sharper from point 0 to point 25. In a lot of the matches before, we were up and just couldn’t hold the lead. We’re learning how to do that. We had players make plays. We made some great digs – it was just a complete effort from our team. We were mentally tougher.”

The opening set versus Oklahoma City set the tone for the day. Camryn Opfer got the afternoon started in style by pounding six kills on nine swings in the first set that Concordia won, 25-13, while hitting a sizzling .500. The Stars (2-2) buckled down and made things more interesting in the second and third sets, but the Bulldogs walked away a winner, 25-13, 25-21, 25-22. Opfer finished the match with 12 kills and three blocks. Concordia outhit Oklahoma City, .281 to .239.

A notable change was made to the lineup on Friday with the Bulldogs putting to use both Tara Callahan and Bree Burtwistle at setter. In her most extensive action yet in navy and white, Burtwistle notched 25 assists versus Oklahoma City and 24 against Montana Tech.

“We played ‘Burty’ in the front row and Tara in the back row,” Boldt explained. “Tara and Arleigh (Costello) have a really good connection that allows that to happen and Burtwistle and Gabi (Nordaker) have a really good connection. It just felt natural for those four to connect. This lineup allowed that to happen. We’re continuing to play with stuff. I thought this was a gritty, tough lineup. I’m proud of them for how they responded.”

Though a lengthy team, Montana Tech had no answer for the Bulldog middles in the night cap. Nordaker went off for 15 kills on 25 attempts with just one error (.560 percentage). In addition, Sara Huss collected nine kills and hit .500. From the outside, Opfer added 12 kills and 11 digs (one of four Concordia players with at least 10 digs). Erica Heinzerling chipped in with eight kills.

On another note regarding the first match, the Bulldogs landed 10 aces, including four from Cassidy Knust and three from Tatum Kuti. Knust has taken on additional responsibility as the team’s libero. She posted 19 digs on the day. On the attack, Opfer paced Concordia with 24 kills on Friday while Nordaker was right behind her with 23.

On the final day of the Bellevue Labor Day Classic, the Bulldogs will draw yet another ranked opponent as they prepare to take on No. 10 University of Providence (Mont.). The Argos (6-1) are 2-1 this weekend with loss coming at the hands of Doane. First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT on Saturday. Live stats can be followed by visiting Bellevue’s event page HERE.

Weekend in Bellevue closes with loss to No. 10 Providence

Sep. 4, 2021

BELLEVUE, Neb. – A day after claiming a pair of wins over top 25 opponents, the sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team fell short of a perfect weekend at the Bellevue Labor Day Classic. In Saturday (Sept. 4) afternoon action, the Bulldogs were upended by No. 10 University of Providence (Mont.), 25-23, 25-17, 25-13. The Argos hit .307 and got a match high 13 kills from Sadie Lott.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad defeated No. 17 Oklahoma City University and No. 19 Montana Tech in Friday’s matches at the weekend event. Concordia stands at 4-3 overall (1-1 GPAC).

“The biggest thing in this match was Providence won the serve and pass battle,” Boldt said. “They were really tough back there and broke us down a bit. It was a really tight match. There were one or two little things that resulted in them coming out on top. It was back-and-forth the whole time. It was a fun match to play and coach in. I was happy with how our team responded after a tough second set, but you have to be able to put them away when it’s on the line.”

Lott was a handful at middle blocker. She hit .500 (13 kills on 24 swings) and contributed eight digs, two aces and two blocks. Her big day helped lift Providence in the first and third sets when the margins were slim. In that third set, the Bulldogs were close to forcing a fourth set while edging in front, 23-21. The Argos (7-1) put four-straight points on the board to end it. The run was punctuated by Madysen Hoerner’s kill for match point. Concordia also owned a slight 23-22 lead in the opening set.

The Bulldogs hit .218 for the afternoon while featuring a balanced attack. Five Concordia hitters contributed six or more kills: Erica Heinzerling (nine), Camryn Opfer (seven), Arleigh Costello (seven), Gabi Nordaker (six) and Kalee Wiltfong (six). Once again, the Bulldogs used a two-setter system with Tara Callahan (22 assists) and Bree Burtwistle (14 assists) at the controls.

Defensively, Cassidy Knust paced Concordia with 15 digs. Costello (four blocks) and Wiltfong (three blocks) were both active at the net. In service, Kennedy VanScoy dropped in a pair of aces.

Seven matches into the 2021 season, the Bulldogs are certainly battle-tested. Said Boldt, “That’s what we play for. We want to see who we are as a team. I think we found out a couple of really strong connections in our hitters. We need to continue to find who are strongest people are in the tough moments. I’ve been happy with how we’ve responded to all that. We’re going to continue to tweak and find the right connections and the right relationships for six rotations.”

Concordia’s sixth match in a row against a ranked foe is coming up Wednesday when it will host No. 3 Midland (12-0, 2-0 GPAC). First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs have won each of the past three meetings with the Warriors, including a season sweep in 2020. Midland already owns five wins over ranked teams.

Bulldogs put away in three sets by red hot Midland

Sep. 8, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – In an anticipated matchup of instate rivals, blistering hot Midland emerged from Friedrich Arena still undefeated on the 2021 season. The third-ranked Warriors hit .324 on Wednesday (Sept. 8), held off a third-set push from the sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team and triumphed, 25-17, 25-18, 25-23. The Bulldogs had won the three most recent matchups with Midland, the 2020 NAIA national runner up.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has waded through a stretch of six-straight matches against ranked opponents. Even at 4-4 overall (1-2 GPAC), Concordia remains confident it is a high-level team. This stretch may prove beneficial as the GPAC season moves along.

“The margin for error is very small. We were actually having some good attacks,” Boldt said. “But they play really, really good defense. A lot of those attacks that had gone down for us in the previous couple of games didn’t go down for us this time. That’s frustrating so you have to continue to play your game. That showed us where we need to grow as a team right now.”

Ever since the spring of last season, the Warriors have elevated their play to completely new heights. The Bulldogs swept the two 2020 regular season matches from Midland, but the visitors got some measure of revenge on Wednesday. They had to earn it in a third set that hung in the balance when Erica Heinzerling and Kalee Wiltfong combined on a block to get Concordia within, 21-20. A Heinzerling kill later cut Midland’s lead back to one, 24-23. Brooke Fredrickson followed with a kill for match point.

The battle in the third set was encouraging for the Bulldogs, who struggled to contain the likes of Taliyah Flores (13 kills, .355) and Abbey Ringler (13 kills, .500, five blocks). The Warrior attack is spurred by star setter Hope Leimbach, who racked up 38 assists. A formidable Midland back row also had a hand in limiting Concordia to a .162 hitting percentage for the evening.

The Bulldogs had their best success in the third set when they hit .216 and put away 14 kills. Outside hitter Camryn Opfer led Concordia with nine kills while three of her teammates posted six or more: Kalee Wiltfong (seven), Arleigh Costello (six) and Gabi Nordaker (six). Setter Tara Callahan notched 26 assists and was responsible for the team’s two aces. Meanwhile, Rebecca Gebhardt (13) and Cassidy Knust (11) paced the Bulldogs in digs. Nordaker and Wiltfong contributed to three blocks apiece.

Said Boldt, “We need to be able to play at a high level for long stretches of time. I see really good play out of our team at smaller points. Our serving I didn’t think was very good tonight. That’s something we need to revisit. That’s controllable our side of the net. It’s another point in our season that we need to grow from. Our team doesn’t believe that this was their best. They want to get back out there. I think this is going to be a good motivator for us.”

Had there been a new NAIA poll this week, Midland (14-0, 3-0 GPAC) likely would have been ranked No. 1 considering its resume includes wins over No. 1 Missouri Baptist University, No. 4 Park University (Mo.) and No. 9 Viterbo University (Wis.), in addition to Concordia. The Bulldogs are 2-4 during their string of matches against ranked foes.

Boldt will take his crew to Baldwin City, Kan., for this weekend’s Baker Invitational (Sept. 10-11). On the first day of the event, Concordia will take on Columbia College (Mo.) with first serve at 7 p.m. CT.

Bulldogs fall despite Opfer's career night

Sep. 10, 2021

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Standout Camryn Opfer abused the floorboards as part of a career night, but it wasn’t quite enough for the sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team to get over the hump on Friday (Sept. 10). The Bulldogs dropped their first match of the weekend at the Baker Invitational, 22-25, 25-17, 25-20, 18-25, 15-8, at the hands of Columbia College (Mo.). Concordia played its seventh match in a row against opponents that are either ranked or receiving votes nationally.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad also fell in straight sets on Wednesday while up against third-ranked Midland. The Bulldogs have slipped to 4-5 overall. Boldt believes that keeping committed to the program’s core values will help flip these types of matches going forward.

“It’s not necessarily showing up in the win-loss column right now, but we are seeing growth,” Boldt said. “There are one or two points that are going the other way. It’s the little things like handling the ball better on that first contact. We’re going to stay true to our process. That’s what we’re built on. You can see it in their eyes. We know what we need to do and we’re going to continue to put ourselves in good positions.”

Opfer bombed away for eight of her 23 kills during a must-win fourth set for Concordia. She embraced the program’s mantra of ‘Be the Woman’ by putting away point Nos. 22, 23 and 24 in that fourth set. Shelby Stark then finished it off with a kill of her own. After hitting .314 in the fourth, the Bulldogs had put themselves in position for a potential momentum-building victory.

The fifth set proved to be a different story. A close 8-7 battle midway through the set unraveled into a runaway for the Cougars (10-4), who got 17 kills from Sidney Branson, 15 from Beyza Bektasoglu and 10 from Ellie Crede. Columbia outhit Concordia on the night, .210 to .185. For the victors, Danielle Prior was a wall. She was credited with three block solos and six block assists.

Opfer and Gabi Nordaker (17 kills on 38 swings) were counted upon for the bulk of the Bulldog attacks. Tara Callahan piled up 46 assists and 11 digs while libero Cassidy Knust paced the squad with 20 digs and two aces. Opfer added to her big night with 17 digs. Rebecca Gebhardt (12) and Tatum Kuti (10) also reached double figures in digs. In her first action in the navy jersey, Lincoln Pius X alum Carly Rodaway contributed three kills and three blocks.

Said Boldt of Opfer’s performance, “Cam’s going to have great touches on the ball in whatever she does, whether she’s passing or attacking. She’s a great presence and example for everybody.”

Columbia competes as a member of the American Midwest Conference. The Cougars were situated two spots out of the top 25 in the most recent NAIA poll. They now own two wins over top 25 foes having also defeated No. 18 Ottawa University (Kan.) in five sets. Columbia burned Concordia on Friday with nine aces (to only four service errors).

The weekend in Baldwin City will continue on Saturday with a pair of matches. The Bulldogs will play No. 18 Ottawa at 1 p.m. CT before wrapping up the Baker Invite with a 7 p.m. contest versus Missouri Valley College. Following the weekend, it will be GPAC play the remainder of the regular season for Concordia.

Weekend in Baldwin City concludes with wins over Ottawa, Missouri Valley

Sep. 11, 2021

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – While wrapping up the Baker University Invitational, the sixth-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team closed the week on a high note. Gabi Nordaker enjoyed a big day in the middle while leading the Bulldogs to straight-sets victories over No. 18 Ottawa University (Kan.) and Missouri Valley College. Concordia owned massive hitting percentage advantages in both matches.

This was the way Head Coach Ben Boldt would have hoped his team would play heading back into the conference grind next week. The Bulldogs (6-5, 1-2 GPAC) fell to Columbia College (Mo.) in five sets on Friday before Saturday’s rebound.

“We stayed true to who we are and we’re going to continue to grow through the losses and whatever adversity we face – and really find out who we are,” Boldt said. “It was good to see them have a good result today.

“Our defense was disciplined and offensively we were making good choices. We played clean volleyball, which is something we’re always talking about. We have to serve well, we have to play defense well and our attackers need to be driving to the ball. I think we did all of those things. When we faced adversity, we made it to the next play mentally.”

The numbers tell the tale of a dominant day in Baldwin City, Kan. The Bulldogs outhit Ottawa, .291 to .139, and out-attacked Missouri Valley, .424 to .153. Concordia’s ability to stay in system yielded major production for Nordaker, who piled up 13 kills (.550) against Ottawa and another 11 (.600) versus Missouri Valley. As a sign of how efficient the Bulldogs were on Saturday, they hit no worse than .200 in any of the six sets and allowed their opponents to reach the 20-point mark in only one set.

In the afternoon victory, Camryn Opfer also added 13 kills and eight digs. Meanwhile, Tara Callahan posted 41 assists and 11 digs, Erica Heinzerling floored nine kills and Cassidy Knust contributed nine digs. Ayona Tharps paced the Braves (3-4) with 12 kills.

In the weekend capper, Opfer and Nordaker shared the team high with 11 kills apiece. Opfer needed only 24 swings to reach that number from the outside. Callahan added to a solid day with 37 more assists, 11 digs and three blocks. Heinzerling notched 10 kills and Carly Rodaway chipped in with eight. In service, Rebecca Gebhardt accounted for half of the team’s 10 aces versus Missouri Valley (5-9). No Viking player managed to put away more than seven kills.

It will be conference play for the remainder of the regular season. The Bulldogs will welcome Doane (12-3, 1-2 GPAC) to Friedrich Arena on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. CT matchup. Concordia will carry a six-match series win streak over the Tigers into the contest.

Bulldogs Rodaway from Doane in four sets

Sep. 15, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – A competitive first two-and-a-half sets gave way to the Carly Rodaway show and a closing run of dominance for the 19th-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team on Wednesday (Sept. 15) night. Following a 14-14 stalemate in the third set (match tied 1-1), the Bulldogs rattled off 36 of the match’s final 50 points while leaving no doubt against rival Doane. Concordia triumphed in four sets, 25-21, 17-25, 25-16, 25-12, inside Friedrich Arena.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has won three-straight matches to move to 7-5 overall (2-2 GPAC). The Bulldogs have won each of the last seven meetings over the Tigers.

“Ultimately, I was proud of our response from that point on (after the second set) and how we stayed mentally tough,” Boldt said. “This week we’re working on being able to keep our edge. When the other team makes an adjustment, we’ve got to be able to focus and refocus and increase our communication. I thought we fought hard to keep our composure through some adversity tonight.”

Rodaway made quite a first impression in her first career match inside Friedrich Arena. Many of the loudest moments came during the third set, at a time when it appeared to be anyone’s match. Rodaway could not be stopped from the right side. She hammered kills for point Nos. 16, 17, 18, 21 and 22 and sandwiched in a block for point No. 19. The splurge electrified a Concordia squad that carried that energy through a breezy fourth set.

A Lincoln Pius X alum, Rodaway finished with a team high 12 kills and a .400 hitting percentage on the night. The Bulldogs floored 14 kills without a single error in the fourth set and outhit Doane, .201 to .129, on Wednesday. The lefty Rodaway provided an obvious spark.

“That was amazing,” Rodaway said of the third set. “The team really helped bring me up and I just wanted to keep going. Tara (Callahan) kept feeding me – it was awesome … Everyone’s been so inviting. The culture is definitely what I was looking for.”

Of course Rodaway had help. Standout Camryn Opfer supplied 11 kills and was all over the place in the back row (match high 21 digs). In the middle, Gabi Nordaker (10 kills, seven blocks) was the key to Concordia’s blocking efforts. The Bulldogs owned an 11-6 advantage in that category. At setter, Callahan racked up 46 assists and also chipped in with 13 digs and four blocks. Rebecca Gebhardt and Cassidy Knust added 18 and 17 digs, respectively. Opfer also led the way with three aces.

The Tigers (12-4, 1-3 GPAC) got a match high 14 kills from their star, Gabby Menghini. Doane hit a blistering .333 in the second set that it won, but it followed it up by attacking at clips of -.043 in the third and .079 in the fourth. The Tigers began this season at 8-0 and hold a conference win over Mount Marty.

Rodaway was sidelined early in the season, but she’s been counted upon heavily over the past four matches. Said Boldt, “She’s able to turn the ball down the line and she’s able to hit it across court, which makes her unpredictable. She was frustrating them on that side.”

The Bulldogs will be on the road for the second time during conference play when they play at Hastings (11-5, 2-2 GPAC) on Saturday. First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT from Lynn Farrell Arena. Concordia won the only matchup between the two sides last season. The Bulldogs and Broncos split a pair of 2019 meetings.

Get to know you Q&A: Ben Boldt

Sep. 17, 2021

Ben Boldt became head coach of Concordia University Volleyball in December of 2017. He and assistant coach Angie Boldt (Ben’s wife) have guided the program to back-to-back trips to the final site of the NAIA national tournament. The 2020-21 Bulldogs advanced to the national quarterfinals and finished the season with a No. 8 national ranking. A native of Hickman, Neb., Ben graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was a student coach and manager. Ben and Angie have two children, Brady and Addison.

Q&A with Coach Ben Boldt

Which athlete(s) did you idolize growing up?
Michael Jordan and anyone from Husker Football. Fiona Nepo was the setter for Nebraska Volleyball when I was growing up – I feel like I try to style my game like hers.

Who are your favorite professional sports teams?
Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates, LA Lakers.

What is the most memorable sporting event you have attended as a spectator?
1996 Nebraska vs Penn State Volleyball – Regional Final.

Which person/people were most influential in your career choice?
John Cook, Craig Skinner, Angie Boldt.

What is one book you would recommend to others in your profession?
“The Score Takes Care of Itself” – Bill Walsh.

What’s the best coaching advice you’ve received?
Focus on the Process.

What do you find most rewarding about coaching?
The relationship you create with the student athletes is the best part of coaching. To see them grow and mature through their four years is the most rewarding of all.

What has changed the most about the profession since you started coaching?
Coaching is awesome because there is never one way to do anything. We are constantly adjusting to how we can best serve our team. The style of communication has changed a lot since I began – more digital communication happens now. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, either…we just have to continue to figure out how to best connect with the team.

Beyond athletic talent and ability, what is the No. 1 trait you’re looking for in a prospective recruit?
We look for great people who can be a contributing member of the group and keep the needs of the team above the needs of themselves. One of our core values is “Sacrifice” – which means that there will be times that you have to sacrifice what you want to do for the good of the team as a whole.

Name something your own student-athletes have taught you in your time as a coach.
When you give your student-athletes trust and respect, they will give it back to you. I think the old way of the coach-player relationship used to be “I say this, you do this.” I have learned that these student-athletes will run through a brick wall if you give them your trust and respect.

What athletic achievement of your own are you most proud of?
There are a couple. I won two blue ribbons at the Tecumseh Pre-School track meet for the standing long jump and the 100-meter dash. I also had a good homecoming game for Norris High School Football where I had an 80-yard touchdown reception.

How are you most likely spending your free time away from work?
Definitely with my wife and kids. They are super fun!

What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
Probably some Valentino’s Pizza and the Val’s Blue Cheese dressing.

What’s your favorite Lincoln (or Lincoln area) restaurant?
That’s a really good question. Chipotle is always a favorite. Bison Witches is really good, too.

Which movie or TV show do you quote from the most?
Anything with Jim Carey, Will Farrell or Vince Vaughn in it.

Where did you go for vacation this past summer?
We went to a resort in Lake Charles, LA, this summer. Also went to Harlan Reservoir out by Alma, NE. We have farmland in Sterling, NE, that is a nice getaway for us, too.

Which social medium (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) do you use the most?
I am not great on social media. I’d say I’m on twitter the most probably. We have a team group on Snapchat that we use to stay in touch with each other.

What genre of music do you prefer?
Anywhere from 60’s to 2000’s Rock.

What was the first car you drove?
1982 Chevy Cavalier. 4-Speed Manual Transmission.

Name a famous person you’ve met.
Scott Frost.

If you had to choose any band or musical artist to perform at Bulldog Stadium, who would you choose?
Justin Timberlake.

What is the No. 1 thing that makes Concordia a special place?
The Christ-Centered community is absolutely what makes this place special.

What is it that keeps you excited about your job as you look ahead to the 2021-22 academic year?
I am looking forward to the evolution of not just our team but all the programs here at Concordia.  This is truly a community where we are rooting for each other to get better. Whether that is on the court, the classroom, or any other department on campus. Go Bulldogs!

Strongest performance of 2021 propels No. 19 Bulldogs

Sep. 18, 2021

HASTINGS, Neb. – The Concordia University Volleyball team traveled to Hastings College on Saturday (Sept. 18) while making its second GPAC road trip of the season. The 19th-ranked Bulldogs made quick work of the Broncos, sweeping them in three sets, 25-19, 25-22, 22-15. Concordia hit the ball with efficiency, racking up 46 kills and a .363 hitting percentage, all while holding Hastings to a .125 hitting percentage.

The Bulldogs have been sharp as of late, winning four-straight matches, only dropping one set in the four-game span. Concordia improves to 8-5 (3-2 GPAC) while Hastings slips to 11-6 (2-3 GPAC).

Concordia got hot early and didn’t look back. Said Head Coach Ben Boldt, “I think we were mentally tough coming out right off the bat and finished through the set really well. For me, it was more about concentration and mental toughness than it was about volleyball skill. We came out sharp and went up 5-1 to start off the match. We were making really good choices with our attacks and working hard to put ourselves in a good position as attackers. When you do that, the shots open up for you. That was fun to see.”

It took more than just one Bulldog player to complete the dominant win. Camryn Opfer paced the victors with 11 kills and a match high 11 digs. Gabi Nordaker pulverized seven kills, hitting .500 in the process. Tara Callahan was also a key player with 39 assists to go along with seven digs and three kills. The Bulldogs had five players with seven or more kills, including Erica Heinzerling (nine), Carly Rodaway (nine) and Kalee Wiltfong (seven). Rodaway put forth another strong performance after sparking Wednesday’s win over Doane.

“There is always competition that is happening,” Boldt said. “It’s fun to see different players respond. It’s been fun to see that evolution to have a player make a mistake and then readjust, refocus and be successful on the next play. There was a lot of that happening today. It was a total team effort. “We probably had our best match of the year. I was proud of our blocking and our defense today. I think our serving could have been better, but defensively I thought we were really tight.”

The Broncos were led by senior Emily Krolikowski who had 11 kills. Hastings’ GPAC wins have come over Doane and Mount Marty. Concordia has now won three of the last four matchups with the Broncos.

The Bulldogs now get set to travel to Yankton, S.D., on Wednesday. The Lancers, who are 6-8 (0-5 GPAC), have already met with Concordia earlier in the season. The Bulldogs won the first meeting in three sets. Wednesday’s match is set to start at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Callahan collects eighth career GPAC weekly award

Sep. 21, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – For the first time this season and for the eighth time in her career, fifth-year Bulldog Tara Callahan has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Volleyball Setter of the Week, as announced on Tuesday (Sept. 21). Callahan is also the first Concordia University Volleyball player to garner a GPAC weekly award this season. Callahan led the Bulldogs to a pair of GPAC wins last week.

A native of Brady, Neb., Callahan averaged 12.14 assists per set (85 total assists) in victories over Doane and Hastings. Callahan’s work at setter paved the way for Concordia to hit .201 versus Doane and .363 at Hastings. Callahan’s week also included 20 digs, four kills and four blocks. Within conference play, Callahan is averaging 11.1 assists per set. Her 39 assists at Hastings represented a season high for a straight-sets match.

Recently, Callahan moved past 4,000 career assists, making her the third player in program history to reach that figure. With 4,126 career assists, Callahan ranks behind only Stacy Stuckenschmidt (4,949) and Alayna Kavanaugh (4,485) on the program’s all-time list. Kavanaugh is the only Bulldog to rank above Callahan since rally scoring debuted in college volleyball in 2001. Callahan has earned First Team All-GPAC and NAIA Honorable Mention All-America honors in each of the past two seasons.

Callahan and the 19th-ranked Bulldogs (8-5, 3-2 GPAC) will return to action on Wednesday when they take on Mount Marty (6-8, 0-5 GPAC) in Yankton, S.D., at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Win streak moves to five in crisp performance at Mount Marty

Sep. 22, 2021

YANKTON, S.D. – The Concordia University Volleyball team came into Wednesday (Sept. 22)’s matchup against Mount Marty prepared, taking it in three sets, 25-16, 25-19, 25-14. The 19th-ranked Bulldogs have been sharp as of late, winning five consecutive matches. In the second meeting of the year between the two teams, the Bulldogs hit a smoldering .360 with a total of 44 kills and managed to hold the Lancers to an .021 hitting percentage and 22 kills.

The win moves Concordia to 9-5 (4-2 GPAC) while Mount Marty falls to 6-19 (0-6 GPAC). Taking care of business on Wednesday was important considering the strength of the GPAC, a league boasting six NAIA top 20 teams.

Head Coach Ben Boldt made sure his team didn’t overlook a struggling Mount Marty team. He alluded to one of his favorite quotes from his outside hitter Camryn Opfer in his post-game interview. Said Boldt, “Cam has a great quote that she has kind of set for this season. ‘Prepare for big moments and enjoy the ride’ and you know when we prepare it’s got to be a high level of preparation every single time that we step out there. It’s been a focus of ours and kind of a theme of ours this year.”

The match went about how the Bulldogs had hoped in never allowing the Lancers to crack 20 points in any single set. Erica Heinzerling and Carly Rodaway led the squad with 11 kills apiece with Rodaway hitting an astounding .625. GPAC Setter of the Week Tara Callahan handled racked up 35 assists while adding eight digs. In addition, Kalee Wiltfong posted eight kills and three blocks, Gabi Nordaker contributed seven kills and three blocks and Rebecca Gebhardt totaled a match high nine digs. Mount Marty was led by Alexis Kirkman and Alex Ruth, both with six kills.

“We responded well in some different lineup situations,” Boldt said. “I thought our mentality was great. You know, I see some good efficient hitting percentages from our middles, which is awesome. Our outsides were really efficient as well. I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better mentality from an execution standpoint.”

Concordia also toppled Mount Marty in straight sets in the season opener back on Aug. 25. The five-match win streak includes triumphs over then 18th-ranked Ottawa University (Kan.), Missouri Valley College, Doane, Hastings and Mount Marty.

The Bulldogs look to continue extend the streak at home as they host No. 17 College of Saint Mary (15-2, 5-1 GPAC) this Saturday with first serve at 4 p.m. CT. The two teams met in a five-set decision earlier in the year where the Flames got the win. CSM knocked off No. 1 Midland on Wednesday.

Nordaker stars in five-set heartbreaker

Sep. 25, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – Just like the loss the 19th-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team suffered at College of Saint Mary, one critical play at the right time could have swung the result on Saturday (Sept. 25). The Flames showed their mettle on the road by fending off two potential match points in the fourth set while winning, 19-25, 29-27, 20-25, 26-24, 15-12, inside Friedrich Arena. No. 17 College of Saint Mary has twice defeated the Bulldogs in five sets this season.

The defeat snapped a five-match win streak for Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad. Concordia (9-6, 4-3 GPAC) has played eight matches against teams that were ranked in NAIA top 25 at the time of first serve.

“It was a very even, high-level match,” Boldt said. “It wasn’t about errors necessarily, it was about making plays. There were a couple plays where they get an arm under a ball and they continue to play. We have to continue to keep our composure during those times and not get out of the things that we train to do. That was the margin for error in the fourth set when we had a chance to put it away.”

A kill by Kalee Wiltfong in the fourth set provided a 24-22 lead and a chance for the Bulldogs to end it right there. It’s fair to say that the Flames are a gritty bunch. With the help of Concordia attack errors, CSM rattled off the final four points of the fourth set. Then in the fifth set, Dani Prusha and Rosa Reed-Bouley emerged with kills for point Nos. 14 and 15, respectively. The Flames had held off Concordia in a match characterized by strong defense and prolonged rallies.

CSM had to overcome a starring performance from Bulldog middle Gabi Nordaker, who totaled 22 kills and nine blocks. Camryn Opfer (14) and Kalee Wiltfong (14) also produced double figures in kills. Setter Tara Callahan piled up 57 assists, 21 digs and three aces. Callahan was one of five Concordia players with at least 10 digs with her having been joined by Opfer (23), Rebecca Gebhardt (17), Tatum Kuti (15) and Cassidy Knust (14).

Across the board, the Flames (16-2, 6-1 GPAC) were just a little bit better. They owned advantages of .184 to .160 in hitting percentage, 71-66 in kills, 112-102 in digs and 16-13 in blocks. Kamryn Williams topped the visitors with 15 digs. Makenna Freeman paced her side with eight blocks. Meanwhile, Rachel Cushing accumulated a match high 37 digs. It’s been a big week for CSM, which also knocked off No. 1 Midland in five sets on Wednesday.

With the match on the line, Concordia hit a solid .267 in the fifth set. However, the Flames earned nearly all of their points by pounding 13 kills to just two errors. Boldt said afterwards that his group is still learning how to ‘Be the Woman’ in those critical moments. The Bulldogs have dropped each of their four five-set matches so far this season.

Concordia will get another shot at Midland (16-2, 5-2 GPAC) on Wednesday when the two sides will meet in Fremont at 7:30 p.m. CT. After back-to-back losses, the Warriors toppled Mount Marty on Saturday. Prior to this season’s loss to Midland, the Bulldogs had won each of the previous three series meetings.

Another five-setter goes the other way

Sep. 29, 2021

FREMONT, Neb. – Eventually one of these five-setters will go the way of Concordia University Volleyball. The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs have proven they can hang with anyone in the GPAC – they just haven’t always found that finishing punch. In another close call on Wednesday (Sept. 29), arch nemesis and third-ranked Midland eked past Concordia, 19-25, 25-14, 25-19, 13-25, 15-13, in Fremont, Neb. The Bulldogs fell despite hitting .278 for the evening.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad had just come off a five-set home defeat at the hands of then 17th-ranked College of Saint Mary. Concordia has slipped to 9-7 overall and to 4-4 within the GPAC.

“We have to continue to be who we are,” Boldt said. “We’re looking at one point the other way and we’re talking about a celebration. We broke down a little bit in the last five points with our serve and pass – that’s communication at the end. There was a ball we half-played that was going out of bounds, but we were taking big swings at the end. That’s all we can ask of them.”

The set scores painted a picture of alternating stretches of dominance. The Bulldogs had their way in the first and fourth sets while the Warriors exercised control in the second and third sets. A six-kill performance in the fourth by Camryn Opfer helped pave the way for another five-set pulse pounder. Concordia never had a match point opportunity, but a hotly contested fifth set was enough to make one reach for the Pepto Bismol. Midland celebrated when Cortlyn Schaefer pounded the match-point kill.

Many positives can be taken away for the Bulldogs, who gave a much better account of themselves, as compared to their straight-sets defeat to Midland on Sept. 8. Not only did Concordia outhit the Warriors (.278 to .221), it also recorded more kills, 63-53, and blocks, 12-11. Opfer paced the Bulldogs with 17 kills and 13 digs. Three teammates joined her in double figures in kills: Gabi Nordaker (14), Erica Heinzerling (13) and Carly Rodaway (10). Each of those three attackers hit .333 or higher.

Midland (17-2, 6-2 GPAC) had lost two recent matches, but has proven to be an elite squad. Star setter Hope Leimbach amassed 48 assists while spreading the ball to the likes of Taliyah Flores (16 kills) and Abbey Ringler (12 kills). Concordia managed to block three of Flores’ attacks. In another statistic of note, both sides had one set with a negative hitting percentage.

Bulldog setter Tara Callahan notched 54 assists, eight digs and three blocks. Cassidy Knust also added 13 digs while Kennedy VanScoy dropped in three aces. A year ago, Concordia opened the 2020 season by winning at Midland in straight sets.

“Another huge top 25 matchup and we were right there at the end,” Boldt said. “You see it in their eyes how much they know it’s right there. The result is frustrating, but I still believe we got better tonight. In those two sets we didn’t play well, that wasn’t the team that I recognize. The team from set four and set five is the team that I know and the team we can be. It’s tough to take the loss, but we got better.”

The Bulldogs will have the weekend off from game action, meaning next Wednesday (Oct. 6)’s 7:30 p.m. CT matchup at Doane (16-4, 4-3 GPAC) is next on the schedule. Earlier this season, Concordia moved its series win streak over the rival Tigers to seven. Rodaway put away 12 kills in what amounted to a four-set home win over Doane on Sept. 15.

Bulldogs come up short in yet another five-set nail-biter

Oct. 7, 2021

CRETE, Neb. – The 23rd-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team lost a heartbreaker against Doane on Wednesday night (Oct. 6). The Bulldogs won the second and third sets before slipping in five, 25-21, 26-28, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12. Concordia had hoped to close out a regular season sweep of the rival Tigers, who are now 4-1 at home.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 9-8 overall (4-5 GPAC). Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has dropped each of its six matches that have gone to a fifth set this season.

Said Boldt, “Credit to Doane for playing a great match. Their outsides played really well. I continue to be proud of how we compete. However, we need to play cleaner volleyball down the stretch.”

In its third-straight five-set match, Concordia saw its seven-match series win streak versus Doane fall by the wayside. The Bulldogs need to find their version of a closer. With a 13-13 tie in the fifth set, the Tigers turned to Kirsten Bures, who buried kills for point Nos. 14 and 15. Gabby Menghini also starred for the victors, racking up 20 kills while hitting .444.

Camryn Opfer and Erica Heinzerling led the Bulldogs with 17 kills each. That total represented a career high for Heinzerling. Opfer also had 14 digs. Gabi Nordaker posted 15 kills while hitting .282. She also led the team in blocks with four. Tara Callahan piled up 65 assists and managing 11 digs. Cassidy Knust paced the Bulldogs with 18 digs. Concordia recorded slightly more kills than the Tigers, 71-68. However, the Bulldogs were hurt by 11 service errors (compared to only two aces).

Doane (17-5, 5-4 GPAC) has been rapidly improving and recently defeated then top-ranked Midland on Sept. 18. The Tigers were just outside of the most recent NAIA top 25. Doane put the match away on Wednesday with 13 kills in the final set. Meanwhile, Concordia’s best effort statistically came in the third set when it hit .357 (18 kills, three errors).

The Bulldogs will look to break their three-match losing streak against No. 18 Dordt (11-5, 3-4 GPAC) on Saturday. First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT. Concordia will be back in Fredrich Arena for the first time since Sept. 25. The last time the Bulldogs faced off with the Defenders was in last year's NAIA national quarterfinals – won by Dordt in straight sets.

Snakebit Bulldogs fall in five to No. 18 Dordt

Oct. 9, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – The results have been cruel lately for a Concordia University Volleyball team that has been right there with a chance to win in virtually every single match this season. For a fourth GPAC outing in a row, the No. 23 Bulldogs were clipped in five sets. This time it was 18th-ranked Dordt that emerged from Friedrich Arena with a 16-25, 25-17, 18-25, 26-24, 15-13, win on Saturday (Oct. 9) afternoon. The hitting percentages (.166 to .163 in Concordia’s favor) were an indication of a hotly contested battle.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has slipped to 9-9 overall and to 4-6 within the GPAC. The competitive fire has been there every day for the Bulldogs.

“It was another great match,” Boldt said. “Early in the fifth set we were playing it safe. That was one of the things that happened in our last match that went 15-13. We made an adjustment and that was what I was most proud of. You saw us at the end there taking aggressive, smart swings. It’s got to be that starting from point zero of the match. In the end game, we were much better than we were in the past.”

The run of tough results has not been about heart or effort. Concordia’s fight was obvious in the fourth set when it trailed 22-15 and then came back to tie it, 24-24. Back-to-back kills by the Defenders’ Corrina Timmermans pushed the match to a fifth set. The Bulldogs also charged back from a 9-3 deficit in the fifth set and got within 14-13 after a Camryn Opfer kill. Alli Timmermans then clinched it for Dordt with the match-point kill.

Kills were not easy to come by on Saturday. Very few attackers posted pleasant hitting percentages. In Concordia’s back row, four players notched at least 14 digs: Tara Callahan (22), Rebecca Gebhardt (17), Opfer (17) and Cassidy Knust (14). The lefty Alli Timmermans caused the Bulldogs the most trouble. She powered down 22 kills on 40 swings. Concordia kept most of the other Dordt attackers in check.

“I thought our defense was better than it had been in terms of keeping the ball alive,” Boldt said. “We didn’t make it easy on anybody. It was a well-earned, gritty match. That’s what you get every time out in the GPAC.”

On the attack, Gabi Nordaker produced 13 kills while hitting .360 for the Bulldogs. At one point in the match, Nordaker left with an apparent injury, but then quickly returned to the court. Erica Heinzerling also added 13 kills and Kalee Wiltfong put away 11. Callahan finished with 47 assists.

The Defenders (12-5, 4-4 GPAC) won twice this week. Allie Timmermans was joined by Corrina Timmermans (14) and Danielle Vande Voort (10) with double figures in kills. Erica Bousema racked up a match high 37 digs. The Bulldogs had the edge in blocking, 12-9, behind six total blocks from Wiltfong.

Prior to first serve, Concordia honored a senior class that includes Arleigh Costello, Kayla Ernstmeyer, Erica Heinzerling, Morgan Nibbe and Jadeyn Stutzman. The senior group has been part of two trips to the final site of the NAIA national tournament.

The Bulldogs will have the middle of this coming week off while preparing for a trip to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Briar Cliff (7-13, 1-8 GPAC) on Oct. 15 and Morningside (10-15, 1-9 GPAC) on Oct. 16.

Attacking efficiency puts Bulldogs back in win column

Oct. 15, 2021

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – After a tough run of results, the Concordia University Volleyball team left no doubt on Friday (Oct. 15). Star setter Tara Callahan quarterbacked the Bulldogs to a .352 hitting percentage and they rolled in straight sets, 25-16, 25-19, 25-20, at Briar Cliff. Concordia made its first trip to Sioux City, Iowa, since reaching the NAIA national quarterfinals this past spring.

It took roughly an hour-and-15-minutes for Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad to wrap things up at the Newman Flanagan Center and get back in the win column. The Bulldogs (10-9, 5-6 GPAC) brushed aside the frustrations from dropping four matches in a row in five sets.

“We were pretty efficient tonight. We did what we needed to do,” Boldt said. “We took good out-of-system swings. Erica Heinzerling was aggressive and smart at the same time. She hit really well and I was happy to see that. Carly Rodaway did a good job on the right side for us and took some good swings too. Our work offensively is what put us over the top.”

Concordia exerted control in all three sets, hitting .333 in the first, .381 in the second and .333 in the third. As Boldt alluded to in his postgame comments, the Bulldogs could have been better in service. They posted only two aces to 12 service errors. It just didn’t matter a whole lot in this match. The Chargers had no answer for Concordia’s attack. Callahan piled up 42 assists while spreading the ball to the likes of Heinzerling (13 kills, .323), Rodaway (10 kills, .444), Gabi Nordaker (nine kills, .412) and Kalee Wiltfong (six kills, .385).

In a statistical oddity, both teams managed only two blocks apiece. That meant a lot of work for the Bulldog back row, which helped limit Briar Cliff (7-15, 1-10 GPAC) to a .125 hitting percentage on the night. Four Concordia players had at least eight digs: Camryn Opfer (16), Callahan (11), Cassidy Knust (eight) and Kennedy VanScoy (eight).

The Chargers were led by the nine kills from Toria Andre. Briar Cliff uses a two-setter system that features Maureen Imrie (15 assists) and Madilyn Wagaman (12 assists). The lone GPAC win for the Chargers this season came over intracity rival Morningside.

This was a positive step for the Bulldogs, who have played the NAIA’s most challenging schedule (according to Massey Ratings). Concordia has been right there with a chance to win in virtually every match it has played this season. It was important for the Bulldogs to be able to slam the door shut on Friday as they seek to enhance their positioning within the GPAC this weekend.

More matches against nationally ranked GPAC opponents are coming, meaning the Bulldogs must sharpen their serving down the stretch. Said Boldt, “Our serving wasn’t great tonight. That’s something we have to clean up for sure. That serving piece is a focus for us. The best teams in the GPAC serve really tough.”

The Bulldogs will remain in Sioux City as they prepare to take on Morningside (10-16, 1-10 GPAC) on Saturday. First serve from the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center is set for 3 p.m. CT. Concordia will attempt to extend its series win streak over the Mustangs to three. Also in Friday night action, Morningside was defeated in straight sets by No. 6 Midland.

Sioux City sweep completed with win at Morningside

Oct. 16, 2021

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University Volleyball team got the confidence boost it needed during an extended stay in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs ramped up their serve game on Saturday (Oct. 16) while taking care of Morningside, 25-14, 25-22, 25-19, inside the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center. Concordia outhit the Mustangs, .256 to .076, and got a match high 13 kills from Erica Heinzerling.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad also defeated Briar Cliff in straight sets on Friday night. The Bulldogs moved to 11-9 overall (6-6 GPAC) and boosted their GPAC positioning (currently tied for fifth place).

“We had a better serving game – our mentality was better back there,” Boldt said. “We set up our defense for better touches on the ball. We played well today and that was fun to see. It’s nice to be rewarded with a first down, but really we were most focused on playing well. I thought we played better today than we did yesterday. The mentality was great, the focus was great and their competitive nature was really good today.”

Chalk up Heinzerling’s fifth match in a row with at least 13 kills. Gabi Nordaker also enjoyed a fine day while putting up 10 kills (.429 hitting percentage) and four blocks. Camryn Opfer filled the stat sheet with nine kills, 11 digs, four aces and three blocks. Setter Tara Callahan racked up 34 assists while spreading the ball around. Five Concordia players had at least five kills. In the back row, Rebecca Gebhardt chipped in with 14 digs and two aces.

In Friday’s win at Briar Cliff, the Bulldogs sizzled on the attack (.352 hitting percentage), but they had only two aces to 12 service errors. Those numbers were turned around in a big way on Saturday as Concordia dropped in 10 aces compared to seven errors. On the other side of the net, Morningside (10-17, 1-11 GPAC) was led by the eight kills from Emmerson Smith. Concordia owned advantages of 45-26 in kills and 7-5 in blocks.

By set, the Bulldogs posted 17, 13 and 15 kills, respectively. The Mustangs gave Concordia a run for its money in the second set. With a slight 23-22 lead, the Bulldogs came through thanks to a kill by Opfer and the collaboration on a block from Opfer and Nordaker.

Both the Chargers and Mustangs struggled to contain Heinzerling on the outside. Said Boldt, “Erica had a really good weekend. She took great swings, she managed the game and played like a senior. There were times when there was an out-of-system ball when needed to throw up to her and never once did she take an errant swing. I just thought she had a really good weekend.”

Only four games remain on the regular season slate. In next week’s action, Concordia will host No. 1 Jamestown (22-0, 11-0 GPAC) on Oct. 22 and No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan (20-5, 9-3 GPAC) on Oct. 23. The Bulldogs have yet to see either opponent so far this season.

Concordia slips at hands of undefeated Jamestown

Oct. 22, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Volleyball team knew it had to deliver its A+ game while up against undefeated and top-ranked Jamestown on Friday (Oct. 22) evening. Ultimately, the blocking of the Jimmies gave the Bulldogs fits in what amounted to a win for the visitors, 25-19, 25-21, 25-21, inside Friedrich Arena. Jamestown piled up 11 blocks and outhit Concordia, .211 to .087.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad is in a fight for a spot in the GPAC tournament and stands at 11-10 overall (6-7 GPAC). One of the nine GPAC squads currently ranked or receiving votes nationally will end up as the odd team out.

Boldt saw a lot of fight in his team despite the result. Said Boldt, “I thought our passing was good. We were able to do what we wanted to in terms of what our offense was. Now it was tough to get past their block. They’re a very fundamentally sound blocking team. I think the biggest thing for me, towards the end of the match we were continuing to compete as far as the way we were swinging. It was the right mentality of us compete and be aggressive at the same time.”

The Jimmies (25-0, 13-0 GPAC) have done this same thing to most of their opponents. Twenty-two of their wins have now come in straight sets. Their play in the front row was superb on Friday with Kalli Hegerle, Corina Huff, Jayla Ritter and Taylor Sabinash each contributing in a big way on the block. In the back row, Ellie Holen mounted 22 digs. That made life difficult for the Bulldog attack, which was limited to .125 hitting or lower in each of the three sets.

Concordia pushed Jamestown in every set. It was within 21-19 in the first, 21-20 in the second and was even at 20-20 in the third. The Jimmies are cool as cucumbers. Head Coach Jon Hegerle never called a timeout all night. Jamestown seems to always have the belief that it will come out on top. Kalli Hegerle finished with a match high 12 kills as one of four Jamestown players with at least six kills.

Bulldog star Camryn Opfer got going with five kills in the opening set. She wound up with 11 kills and nine digs. Opfer produced while being set by both Tara Callahan (19 assists, 11 digs, three aces) and Bree Burtwistle (11 assists, seven digs). Boldt threw in a wrinkle in an effort to spread out the Jamestown block from pin-to-pin. Gabi Nordaker added seven kills in the middle and Cassidy Knust paced the team with 12 digs.

Three matches are all that remain on the regular season schedule. Though the record isn’t where Concordia would like it to be, the team has consistently given max effort. Nothing ever comes easy in the GPAC.

Said Boldt, “We’re getting there as a mentality and that’s what we talk about a lot. That was encouraging to see that from our team. It was really good volleyball. Our serving wasn’t great – we had some untimely missed serves. That’s just an execution type of thing that we need to work on. That was a big piece that we’re going to have to be great at tomorrow.”

The Bulldogs will quickly turn around and host No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan (21-6, 9-4 GPAC) at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday. In action on Friday night at No. 6 Midland, the Tigers were defeated in straight sets. Saturday’s contest will be a rematch of last season’s GPAC quarterfinal won in straight sets by Concordia. DWU appears on track to make a national tournament appearance for the first time since 1990.

Opfer, Dawgs get over five-set hump, knock off No. 15 DWU

Oct. 24, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – No, not this time. The Concordia University Volleyball team, playing to ensure a playoff spot, rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to knock off 15th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan, 22-25, 26-28, 25-10, 25-19, 15-10, Saturday (Oct. 23) afternoon. The victory helped relieve a season’s worth of frustration in similar moments. A day after falling to No. 1 Jamestown, the Bulldogs provided fans inside Friedrich Arena with a thrilling conclusion.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad improved to 12-10 overall (7-7 GPAC) with its fourth win this season over a team with a top 25 ranking at the time of the match.

“They took ownership of their own play,” Boldt said. “That’s the team I know. Starting in the third set, I know that that’s the team we can be and when we start to own that and start to hold each other accountable for it. I’m a little emotional after that one. I was just very proud of how we competed through that. I started crying there at the end after we got the last point.”

The Bulldogs flipped the switch over the final three sets, owning an advantage of 47-25 in kills over that timeframe. Coming into the match Concordia had gone 0-for-7 in matches that went the complete five sets, making this win feel that much more emotional. The Bulldogs racked up 81 kills throughout the five sets, outhitting the Tigers .319 to .176.

Camryn Opfer led the Bulldogs with 25 kills, 20 digs and five blocks in the match in a starring performance. Gabi Nordaker chipped in 16 kills (and four blocks) herself while hitting a sizzling.556. Nordaker put away match point with a kill. Tara Callahan did what she does best, accumulating 50 assists. She teamed up with Bree Burtwistle (24 assists) in a 6-2 system this weekend. Erica Heinzerling bombed away with a career high 21 kills on 43 swings from the outside.

Said Opfer, “We were connecting. We could see it in each other’s eyes that we wanted this more than them.”

Early in the match, the Bulldogs were plagued with service errors. Concordia finished the match with a total of 16 service errors. Midway through, Lexie Kreizel (18 digs) proved to be the spark the team needed. She worked in tandem with Rebecca Gebhardt (14 digs) in the back row.

Said Boldt, “Props to Lexie Kreizel – I thought she did a good job coming in and sparking our team. It was something that we needed. The flow out there was just connected.”

Across the net, DWU’s Addy Dwight (11 kills) stands out as one of the very best middles in the GPAC. The Bulldogs managed to limit Dwight to a .267 hitting percentage. Abigail Brunsing led her side with 12 kills. It was a tough weekend journey to Nebraska for the Tigers (21-7, 9-5 GPAC), who also fell in straight sets at No. 6 Midland on Friday.

Concordia will travel to Orange City, Iowa, to take on Northwestern (16-7, 8-5 GPAC) in its lone match next week. The two squads last met in the 2020 GPAC tournament where Northwestern knocked the Bulldogs out in the semifinals. The matchup will get underway at 3 p.m. CT next Saturday (Oct. 30).

Cardiac Dawgs outlast No. 14 Northwestern in five sets

Oct. 30, 2021

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – For the second-straight outing, the Concordia University Volleyball team found jubilation in a five-set triumph over a top 15 nationally ranked opponent. The 2021 Bulldogs managed to accomplish something the program hadn’t done since 2015 – win at Northwestern. Camryn Opfer put the cherry on top of a starring performance with the match-point kill. Concordia defeated the 14th-ranked Red Raiders, 19-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-19, 15-8, in Orange City, Iowa, on Saturday (Oct. 30).

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad also knocked off No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan in five sets a week earlier. The latest victory will be a major boost to the national tournament hopes of the Bulldogs (13-10, 8-7 GPAC), who have clinched a spot in the GPAC tournament.

“We’re many parts, but we’re one body. It’s a full team effort for us,” Boldt said. “We threw some players in there who stepped up. We’re one team and that’s what we expect. I’m just really proud of their ability to stay consistent.

“Early in the match, Northwestern was a lot better serving and passing than we were. They were taking it to us. Late in the match we got a whole lot better. We were able to get them out of system. Anything can happen on any night in the GPAC.”

When things get tight, Concordia knows it can count on the likes of Opfer on the outside and Gabi Nordaker in the middle. Opfer pounded 21 kills (.314 hitting percentage) and piled up 11 digs. Meanwhile, Nordaker hit a smoldering .567 in the process of putting away 19 kills (in addition to six blocks). Once again, the Bulldogs made use of two setters in Tara Callahan (37 assists, 18 digs) and Bree Burtwistle (13 assists, 18 digs).

Down two-sets-to-one, Concordia had to dig deep while struggling to contain outside hitter Alysen Dexter, who floored a match high 26 kills. The Bulldogs hit .314 in the fourth set and .565 in the fifth set. Opfer was money in the bank during that stretch, striking for five kills in both the fourth and fifth sets. Boldt also called upon the likes of seniors Arleigh Costello and Morgan Nibbe, who helped provide a spark. Erica Heinzerling contributed seven kills while Costello and Carly Rodaway notched six kills apiece. Two aces each were dropped in by Burtwistle, Callahan and Lexie Kreizel.

The Bulldogs pulled off the win despite being outhit, .296 to .253. However, Concordia had slight advantages in blocks, 10-8, aces, 6-3, and digs, 73-72. The Red Raiders (16-9, 8-7 GPAC) got 16 kills from Bekah Horstman in the middle. Like the Bulldogs, Northwestern used a two-setter system, featuring Jadeyn Schutt and Olivia Granstra.

Boldt’s squad should be getting more comfortable in these situations. Concordia has played nine five-set matches this season. The past two victories were an important step in the growing process. The Bulldogs now have a shot to finish in fifth place in the rugged GPAC, which boasts six top 25 teams and two that are receiving votes.

Said Boldt, “I told our team at the end, we’re built for the fifth set. We’ve had plenty of them. It has not phased us lately. We’re battle-tested for sure.”

The Bulldogs will conclude the regular season on Tuesday when they welcome Hastings (14-13, 5-10 GPAC) to Friedrich Arena for a 7:30 p.m. CT first serve. In this season’s first meeting, the Bulldogs handled the Broncos in straight sets in Hastings. Hastings has scuffled of late, dropping each of its last five matches.

Nordaker voted GPAC Attacker of the Week

Nov. 2, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – For her starring role in the five-set win at No. 14 Northwestern, Concordia University’s Gabi Nordaker has been named the GPAC Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Attacker of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday (Nov. 2). Nordaker is the second Bulldog to garner a GPAC weekly honor in 2021, joining setter Tara Callahan (Sept. 21). Last September, Nordaker collected GPAC ad NAIA National Attacker of the Week awards on the same day.

An Omaha native and Millard West High School alum, Nordaker enjoyed a monster day in Orange City, Iowa, on Oct. 30 when she struck for 19 kills while hitting .567 from the middle. She also added six total blocks (one solo and five assists). A Second Team All-GPAC honoree in 2020, Nordaker is a strong candidate for all-conference honors again this season. On the year, Nordaker has notched 264 kills and leads the team in both hitting percentage (.369) and blocks (78). Over two collegiate seasons, Nordaker has accumulated 482 kills and 176 blocks (169 sets played).

As a team, Concordia (13-10, 8-7 GPAC) has locked up a spot in the GPAC tournament after claiming back-to-back five-set wins over top 15 nationally ranked opponents. The Bulldogs will finish the regular season on Tuesday (Nov. 2) by hosting Hastings (14-13, 5-10 GPAC) with first serve set for 7:30 p.m. CT.

Regular season finale dominated by surging Dawgs

Nov. 2, 2021

HASTINGS, Neb. – Forget five sets. The Concordia University Volleyball team made things less dramatic on Tuesday (Nov. 2) by tearing through rival Hastings in a sweep. The Broncos had no answer for the attacking trio of Gabi Nordaker, Camryn Opfer and Kalee Wiltfong as they paced the Bulldogs to a 25-16, 25-21, 25-21, win inside Friedrich Arena. This was the final match of the regular season and perhaps the final match Concordia will play at home in 2021.

With three-straight wins (including two over ranked foes) to close the regular season, Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad should have solidified itself as an NAIA top 25 team when the next poll is released. There have been some frustrating moments, but the Bulldogs (14-10, 9-7 GPAC) have persevered and are now reaping the rewards.

“I was just really proud of our team’s growth from the beginning of the year until the end of the regular season,” Boldt said. “This thing could have unraveled a million different times having gone 0-7 in five-set matches. We find our grit and we find our ownership and then we go 2-0 in five-set matches and are playing well towards the end of the season. It’s a testament to their focus being in the right place.”

Following back-to-back wins over top 15 nationally ranked opponents (No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan and No. 14 Northwestern), Concordia wanted to make sure it would enter the postseason on a high note. Though Hastings provided some early resistance with its block, the Bulldogs did not take long to heat up. In particular, Nordaker and Opfer remained red hot. Opfer pulverized a match high 14 kills while hitting .300 and Nordaker delivered a dozen kills on the strength of a .500 hitting percentage. Also in the middle, Wiltfong needed only 13 swings to mount nine kills.

At the same time as Concordia is surging, the Broncos (14-14, 5-11) have been lassoed, dropping their final six matches of the regular season in the process of missing the postseason. But the ninth-place team in the GPAC isn’t your typical ninth-place team. Hastings enjoyed a 15-9 lead in the second set before the Bulldogs went on a 12-1 run to gain control. Wiltfong ended both the first and second sets with a kill and Arleigh Costello capped the third with a kill.

If this is indeed the final home match for one of the program’s all-time in greats in Tara Callahan (it may not be), this was a proper sendoff. She tallied 27 more assists and added a couple kills on Tuesday. A staple for the past five years, Callahan has been a rock for the 2021 team that needed one.

Said Callahan of what has made this fifth season worth it, “Honestly, being able to see the girls out here on the court with me flourish as players. We’ve done a couple firsts that I had not done in my first four years, like beating Northwestern in Orange City. During that match, I pulled the girls in and I was like, ‘I stayed here for a fifth year for a reason – and it was you guys.’ Being able to see them mature as people is the best feeling.”

The other part of Concordia’s setter duo, Bree Burtwistle, contributed 17 assists and led the team with 14 digs. Erica Heinzerling finished with six kills and Carly Rodaway added five. Opfer also posted 11 digs to go with her 14 kills. As a team, the Bulldogs outhit the Broncos, .285 to .136. Hastings had three different players with seven kills apiece.

GPAC Quarterfinals: Concordia will be the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament and will get another shot at Midland (23-4, 12-4 GPAC), which landed as the No. 3 seed. First serve of the GPAC quarterfinal clash from Fremont, Neb., is slated for 7 p.m. CT on Saturday. The Warriors won both regular season meetings with the second one going to five sets on Sept. 29. The winner will advance to play either seventh-seeded Dordt or second-seeded College of Saint Mary in the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 10. For complete pairings, click HERE.

Forever a Bulldog: Tara talks five-year journey, perseverance of 2021 team

Nov. 4, 2021

Come the fall of 2021, Tara Callahan expected to be grinding away in graduate school, likely living outside the state of Nebraska. Only the unique circumstances brought about by the 2020-21 ‘COVID year’ could have altered that path and allowed for a fifth year of collegiate competition. Callahan’s return to Concordia has been a Godsend for a Bulldog volleyball team that has experienced a wide range of emotions while seemingly putting the pieces together at just the right time.

Over her five seasons, Callahan has played in 478 sets across 133 matches. She’s also been in two national tournaments, including eight national tournament matches. It wasn’t just the love of the game that brought her back, but also the love for her teammates.

Said Callahan, “Honestly, being able to see the girls out here on the court with me flourish as players (is why I’m back). We’ve done a couple firsts that I had not done in my first four years, like beating Northwestern in Orange City. During that match, I pulled the girls in and I was like, ‘I stayed here for a fifth year for a reason – and it was you guys.’ Being able to see them mature as people is the best feeling.”

Callahan could have ridden off into the sunset following last season’s program first run to the national quarterfinals. The Brady, Neb., native graduated with her degree in Psychology back in May. The rest of the senior class she came in with in the fall of 2017? All gone. Each has moved on to different chapters in their lives. While here in Seward, Callahan keeps adding to a résumé that had already placed her among the program’s all-time greats. Not long ago, the two-time First Team All-GPAC and two-time Honorable Mention All-American setter surpassed 4,500 career assists and became the program’s all-time assists leader during the modern era of rally scoring.

In 2017, Callahan entered the program along with the likes of fellow standouts such as Marissa Hoerman and Kara Stark. Hoerman got her degree in Biology and is currently in graduate school at the University of Oklahoma while Stark earned degrees in History and English and is in law school at Creighton University. They’re all doing big things in life, each carving out their own paths.

“The players I came in with freshman year are truly amazing people, and will be Bulldogs forever,” Callahan said. “They knew that I wasn’t ready to be done and fully supported me in my decision to stay. I’m so happy that they are having success in the next step of their lives, and they’ll always be some of my best friends.”

Callahan was here when Ben and Angie Boldt first arrived prior to the 2018 season. Tara’s been a rock for the program and a major figure, front and center, in its rise to prominence. Callahan found her way to the court immediately as a freshman – and still hasn’t left it. She’s experienced the highs and the lows and understands how to bounce back when adversity hits. After all, she has an interest in sports psychology.

Her presence has been a steadying influence. The 2021 Bulldogs could have ripped apart at the seams when they lost seven five-set matches in a row. Concordia persevered and got over the hump by knocking off both No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan and No. 14 Northwestern in five sets. Those two wins could prove crucial in terms of potentially extending this season into the national tournament.

Said Callahan following the win over Hastings in the regular season finale, “We had a few kinks to work through. This whole season we’ve spent trying to put people in the right places where they’ll shine. I think we’ve finally found that in this team. We all love each other so much that it doesn’t matter who’s playing where or who we’re playing anymore, we’re just really focused on what we’re doing. It’s working – it’s been fun.”

Of course, no loss on the court could ever compare to the loss Tara experienced in June 2020 when her father Tim passed away. Thankfully, Callahan has a world class support system that includes her teammates and coaches at Concordia.

“My teammates were incredibly supportive in dealing with the loss of my father,” Callahan said. “The last two seasons have been incredibly difficult without him physically being at my games, but the support system that has surrounded me has been unreal. I know he’s up there, looking down, incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished so far.”

In return for such support she’s received, Tara has offered it right back. She puts the team first. Sometimes that means splitting time in a two-setter system so that the Bulldogs can regularly employ three attacking options instead of two. Callahan has embraced having another strong setter in Bree Burtwistle on the team. It’s not about who gets the credit.

Callahan’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. Said teammate Arleigh Costello prior to this season, “I feel like we have a pretty great and special relationship. She’s such a great leader. It’s awesome to have her out there again.”

Ultimately, this season may wind up being just as rewarding as any Callahan has enjoyed. She’s been able to mentor a new group of freshmen while pulling the Bulldogs through some of the disappointing results. After a five-set loss on Oct. 9, Concordia stood at 4-6 in conference play. Now entering the GPAC tournament, the Bulldogs are soaring with confidence having won five out of six and three in a row.

Said Ben Boldt of Callahan’s influence, “Obviously she’s been a cornerstone of what we’ve been here for a long time. She’s looking to set an example for the next group coming up.”

Late in the season, Callahan has helped this team gel while it bids for a third national tournament appearance in a row. No, she won’t be able to play a sixth year, but Callahan is a Bulldog for life.

Said Callahan, “This season has been challenging in ways, but there has never been a doubt in my mind that this team has the talent and skill to win a GPAC championship and battle for a national championship. This entire freshman group and new players to the court have been amazing in their ability to grow and adapt in the game. They continue to impress me every day with their level of competitive play. It’s been incredibly rewarding to be seen as the veteran player and lead them this year. I know only great things are waiting this Concordia program for years to come.”

Dawgs take it to No. 5 Midland, advance to GPAC semifinals

Nov. 6, 2021

FREMONT, Neb. – The Concordia University Volleyball team is peaking at the right time. There was no fear for the Bulldogs on Saturday (Nov. 6) in a trip to Fremont, Neb., that resulted in a dominant win over fifth-ranked Midland. Concordia beat the Warriors like a drum in the third set and took the GPAC tournament quarterfinal clash in three, 25-23, 25-19, 25-7. The Bulldogs have reached the conference semifinal round for the third year in a row.

Head Coach Ben Boldt is presiding over a scary team that has won four-straight matches, including three over teams ranked in the NAIA top 15. There’s no way Concordia (15-10) can be kept out of the national qualifying field at this point.

“I don’t feel like we’ve done anything different from what we’ve done all year,” Boldt said. “We served really well and we blocked really well. When we do that, it took them out of the things they wanted to do. Our serve and defense was awesome and our offense was clicking. When that happens, you see this happen. That was awesome.”

Talk about finishing strong – the Bulldogs put this one to bed early by hitting .722 in the final set. They racked up 13 kills on 18 swings without a single error. For the match, Concordia outhit Midland, .333 to .065, and enjoyed a massive blocking advantage, 9-2. In total, the Warriors were guilty of 35 errors, including 26 of the attacking variety.

That’s what happens when you run into a focused team like the Bulldogs, one that has experienced its share of difficult losses and then came out the other side. Star Camryn Opfer led the attack with 13 kills (.286) from the outside. In the middle, Gabi Nordaker continued her tear with seven kills (.500) and five blocks. With a lot of focus from the opponent placed on Opfer and Nordaker, Carly Rodaway took advantage of her opportunities and collected nine kills on 14 swings from the right side.

Said Boldt, “Gabi had a really good night blocking. She was taking that away from the middle. When you can establish middle, it opens up everybody else. When they couldn’t establish middle, nobody else was open.”

Tara Callahan totaled 26 assists and five digs for the victors. Kennedy VanScoy paced the back row with nine digs. Rodaway and Kalee Wiltfong were in on three blocks apiece. As a team, Concordia missed only two serves.

On the other side of the net, Midland (23-5) struggled to find answers. Taliyah Flores racked up 10 kills, but hit only .121. As a team, the Warriors hit .026 in the second set and -.065 in the third. Midland had won the two regular season matchups over the Bulldogs.

A series of close defeats may have prevented Concordia from competing for a GPAC regular season title, but it is on a mission to give it a run in the postseason. The program seeks its first appearance in the conference tournament title match since 2015.

Said Boldt, “I’m happy that we’ve gone through all the evolutions of our team. We’re here. I’m just really proud of the team. Stats and talent aside, they love each other. It’s an awesome team to be a part of.”

The sixth-seeded Bulldogs will head to Omaha on Wednesday to play second-seeded College of Saint Mary (25-4) in the GPAC semifinals. First serve is set for 7 p.m. CT. The Flames won both meetings in the regular season, but both came down to five sets after Concordia had squandered match-point chances in the fourth.

Nordaker, Bulldogs edge CSM, steer thrill ride into GPAC final

Nov. 10, 2021

VIDEO: Opfer's kill provides match point at CSM

OMAHA, Neb. – The national ranking in front of the opponent just doesn’t mean a thing right now to the Concordia University Volleyball team. The Bulldogs have paddled their way to the GPAC tournament final for the first time since 2015. Concordia confirmed its reservation by claiming a second NAIA fifth-ranked victim in a row. In Wednesday (Nov. 10)’s GPAC semifinal played in the cozy and steamy Lied Fitness Center, the 19th-ranked Bulldogs used a strong block and a whole lot of grit to edge No. 5 College of Saint Mary, 25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 27-29, 15-13.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s white hot squad has bounced the GPAC’s Nos. 2 and 3 seeds from the conference tournament field. Concordia (16-10) has also locked up an automatic berth to the national tournament, where it will appear for a third-straight season.

“It was a really hard-fought defensive battle for sure,” Boldt said. “You look at the hitting percentages and they’re both under .200. We blocked a great game tonight. Defensively, that was a barnburner. I was happy with our team and how we stay composed. We started the fifth set down 0-4 and we could have mailed it in. I was really happy with how they fought.”

Considering both regular season meetings with the Flames went to five sets, the close nature of Wednesday’s clash should not have come as a surprise. The difference now is that the Bulldogs are supremely confident in their ability to triumph over adversity. Concordia faced its share of it after failing to put the match away in the fourth set and then going down 4-0 in the fifth. The Bulldogs responded with an 8-1 run and eventually celebrated match point on Camryn Opfer’s 12th kill of the night.

If it wasn’t clear by before, it is now – Gabi Nordaker is a star in the middle. She had a hand in 12 of the team’s 21 blocks (compared to nine blocks for CSM) and came away with a hard-earned match high of 17 kills. This was one of those evenings where it was a chore to find the floor on the attack. Concordia wound up outhitting the Flames, .162 to .109. As evidence of how tight it was, both teams registered exactly eight kills and five errors in the fifth set.

The Bulldogs led, 13-9, in the fifth and stuck with it after CSM closed within a point (14-13). Opfer’s kill then set off another five-set celebration.

“Very high emotions,” said Nordaker of that moment. “Half of us were crying out there, but we have worked so hard. We wanted that so bad. We lost to them twice in the regular season in five sets. It was our time to win and we really wanted it … We worked hard this entire season on blocking. We were going to take away those angles and know that the defense behind me was going to pick up the balls that I couldn’t get. There’s a lot of trust.”

There were plenty of contributors to the win – 14 different Bulldogs saw action. Carly Rodaway (10 kills) joined Nordaker and Opfer in double figures in kills. Tara Callahan piled up 34 assists, 10 digs and three blocks while Bree Burtwistle chipped in 19 assists, 15 digs and three aces. In addition, Erica Heinzerling (seven blocks), Arleigh Costello and Kalee Wiltfong each posted six or more kills. In the back row, Rebecca Gebhardt put up 14 digs and Kennedy VanScoy dropped in two aces.

Seeded second in the GPAC, College of Saint Mary (25-5) has lost only once since Sept. 29. The Flames were led by the 12 kills from Rosa Reed-Bouley. No single CSM player had a hitting percentage better than .219. Standout libero Rachel Cushing was credited with a match high 25 digs.

Things have really come together for Boldt’s squad. Said the fourth-year head coach, “A lot of gritty performances there. Gabi led us in kills again. We were trying to get her the ball as much as we could. They were serving well so it was kind of tough to get it to our middles there for a little bit. Super, super gritty. We set up our defense to defend their right side and I think we did a really good job with that. I’m just happy with our execution.”

Concordia will now be tasked with trying to put the first blemish on top-ranked Jamestown’s record. The Jimmies moved to 30-0 this season after toppling No. 13 Dakota Wesleyan in straight sets on Wednesday. Jamestown won in Seward, 25-19, 25-21, 25-21, on Oct. 22. The Bulldogs have won five-consecutive matches since then. Saturday’s Concordia-Jamestown GPAC final is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. CT in North Dakota.

Bid for GPAC title thwarted by No. 1 Jamestown

Nov. 13, 2021

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – In its bid for the program’s first ever GPAC tournament title, the 19th-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team ran into the well-oiled machine that is top-ranked and undefeated Jamestown. The Jimmies hit .342 and piled up 49 kills while defeating the Bulldogs, 25-21, 25-18, 25-17, in the conference championship match played in Jamestown, N.D., on Saturday (Nov. 13). Both teams entered the evening having already secured bids to the opening round of the national tournament.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad, seeded sixth in the GPAC, reached the GPAC final thanks to wins over two teams ranked fifth in the NAIA at the time the matches were played – Midland and College of Saint Mary. Concordia will enter the national tournament with an overall record of 16-11.

“Credit to Jamestown. They did a really good job of keeping pressure on us the whole night,” Boldt said. “Their middles were really good and from a serve and pass standpoint, they always had a perfect pass. It was difficult to defend. I was happy with our fight. Jamestown was able to be more efficient than us.”

The Bulldogs showed some resilience in the opening set after immediately going down 7-1. A combined block by Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer knotted the first set, 13-13. Concordia racked up 15 kills and hit .344 in the first set. It’s just not easy to keep up with the powerful Jimmies, who one-upped Concordia by pounding 18 kills (.432) in that same stretch. Jamestown’s two-setter arrangement featuring Megan Gaffney and Jackie Meiklejohn operates at near perfection.

The Jimmie combo of Corina Huff and Jayla Ritter combined for 13 kills on 28 swings in the middle. Meanwhile, Anna Holden led all players with 13 kills (.387). In addition to a 49-36 advantage in kills, Jamestown had the edge in blocks, 7-4, aces, 4-3, and digs, 56-51. Now a spotless 31-0, the Jimmies have won 26 times in straight sets this season.

On the other side of the net, Erica Heinzerling paced the Bulldogs with 11 kills and a .385 hitting percentage from the outside. Camryn Opfer put up 10 kills and 10 digs while Carly Rodaway posted seven kills (.385). Two others reached double figures in digs: Tara Callahan (11) and Bree Burtwistle (10). Callahan added 22 assists and an ace. Nordaker contributed four kills and one block while Kalee Wiltfong was in on three blocks.

Despite Saturday’s result, Boldt has reason to feel good about his team, which has defeated four teams ranked in the NAIA top 15 since Oct. 23. Concordia will appear at the national tournament for a third year in a row.

Said Boldt, “I think our team is playing with a lot of confidence. They trust each other. This run has been awesome. It’s been something we can build on going into the national tournament. We turn our focus there. We’re excited to get another opportunity to play.”

The opening round pairings for the national tournament are scheduled to be released at 10 a.m. CT on Monday via a selection show that will air on the NAIA’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PlayNAIA. All 24 opening round matches will be played on campus sites next Saturday (Nov. 20). The opening round winners then advance to the final site, the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Bulldogs rewarded with NAIA opening round home match versus Ave Maria

Nov. 15, 2021

NAIA Volleyball National Championship Info

SEWARD, Neb. – Following a run to the GPAC tournament championship match, the Concordia University Volleyball team learned of its draw for the NAIA National Championship Opening Round on Monday (Nov. 15). The 19th-ranked Bulldogs were rewarded with an opportunity to host Ave Maria University (Fla.) as part of Saturday’s opening round. Match time from Friedrich Arena is slated for 1 p.m. CT.

Head Coach Ben Boldt and top assistant Angie Boldt have now led the program to a third-straight national tournament appearance. The 2021 Concordia team qualified for nationals with an automatic berth via its GPAC tournament runner-up claim. During the GPAC postseason, the Bulldogs knocked off two teams that were ranked fifth at the time matches were contested – Midland and College of Saint Mary.

The Gyrenes will be headed to Seward all the way from Ave Maria, Fla., a distance of 1,632 miles. Ave Maria has earned the program’s first-ever trip to nationals. Head Coach Sonya Leszczynski’s squad sports an overall record of 22-7 and is fresh off winning The Sun Conference tournament championship. The Gyrenes ventured up north back in August for a weekend event in Grand Rapids, Mich., where they went 3-1. Nationally, Ave Maria ranks 16th in hitting percentage (.241) and 19th in kills per set (13.35).

This will mark the second time the Bulldogs have hosted an opening round match (first time since 2015). In last season’s opening round, Concordia traveled to New Orleans and defeated Xavier University of Louisiana in four sets. The 2020 Bulldogs went on to advance to the NAIA national quarterfinals, the deepest national tournament run in program history. Concordia also reached the national round of 16 in 2019. The program owns a record of 5-4 all-time at the national tournament.

Each opening round winner will advance to pool play at the final site, the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City. The action in Sioux City will run from Nov. 30 – Dec. 4.

National Tournament Facts

·        Concordia will be making the fourth national tournament appearance in program history. The 2015 squad became the first Bulldog volleyball edition to qualify for nationals. The ’15 squad was defeated in the opening round while hosting Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.). Then in 2019, Concordia broke through with an advancement to the national round of 16 and claimed the program’s first two national tournament victories – over Montana Tech and the University of Saint Mary (Kan.).

·        The 2020 team took things a step further by reaching the NAIA national quarterfinals. The path to the quarterfinals included wins over Xavier University of Louisiana (opening round), Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) and No. 7 Marian University (Ind.). The run ended with a loss to Dordt. Entering this year’s national tournament, the Bulldogs are 5-4 all-time at the national tournament.

·        At last season’s national tournament (played in the spring of 2021; postponed by COVID-19), Camryn Opfer was named to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament team. Over the four national tournament matches, Opfer accumulated 59 kills and 60 digs while hitting .181. Opfer piled up 19 kills in the win over Marian. It was also a solid tournament for Gabi Nordaker, who totaled 25 kills and six blocks in the five-set victory over Lindsey Wilson. This will be the third national tournament experience for Tara Callahan, Arleigh Costello, Nordaker, Opfer and Kalee Wiltfong.

·        Concordia owns wins over six teams that qualified for the 2021 national tournament: College of Saint Mary, Dakota Wesleyan, Midland, Montana Tech, Northwestern and Ottawa University (Kan.). In total, 16 of the team’s 27 matches this season were played against teams that qualified for the national tournament. According to Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs have gone up against the most challenging schedule in the entire NAIA.

·        Ave Maria defeated both Florida Memorial and Coastal Georgia in straight sets as part of The Sun Conference tournament. The Gyrenes went 11-3 in conference play this season. According to the school’s website, “Ave Maria University is a vibrant University located in beautiful Southwest Florida. It is an academic institution that pledges faithfulness to the teachings of the Catholic Church and is committed to offering one of the finest classical liberal arts curricula available, as well as opportunities for specialized study in all of the sciences and humanities.”

Nordaker, Opfer named to GPAC's first team; Callahan lands on second team

Nov. 16, 2021

2021 GPAC Volleyball All-Conference Teams

First Team: Gabi Nordaker, Camryn Opfer
Second Team: Tara Callahan
Honorable Mention: Erica Heinzerling, Carly Rodaway

SEWARD, Neb. – A day after learning it would host an NAIA national tournament opening round match, the Concordia University Volleyball team put five players on the list of all-conference honorees announced on Tuesday (Nov. 16) by the GPAC. Both Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer landed on the first team, Tara Callahan garnered second team accolades and Erica Heinzerling and Carly Rodaway were named honorable mention selections.

A Second Team All-GPAC award winner last season, Nordaker moved up to first team this season while establishing herself as one of the top middles in the GPAC. The Millard West High School alum ranks 20th nationally with a team best hitting percentage of .361. Nordaker also paces the Bulldogs in blocks with 99 and has accumulated 304 kills in 103 sets played. The Omaha native starred in the GPAC semifinal win at No. 5 College of Saint Mary, tallying 17 kills and a career high 12 blocks. In two collegiate seasons, Nordaker has compiled 522 kills and 197 blocks.

The list of accolades keeps growing for Opfer, who was recognized as Second Team All-GPAC in both 2019 and 2020, earned GPAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2019 and played her way onto the 2020 NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team. The Seward High School product is enjoying her finest season in 2021 having posted career highs in kills (335) and digs (321) – two categories she leads the team in. Opfer has hit .219 from the outside while averaging 3.32 kills per set. Opfer’s 25 kills in the five-set win over No. 14 Dakota Wesleyan represented a career high. Opfer currently ranks 13th in program history with 889 career kills.

Callahan has been a constant during the rise of the program over the past few seasons. A native of Brady, Neb., has earned some form of All-GPAC recognition for the fifth year in a row. She garnered honorable mention status in 2017 and 2018 and then First Team All-GPC placement in 2019 and 2020. The two-time NAIA Honorable Mention All-American has racked up 1,016 assists this season for an average of 9.86 assists per set. She’s also notched 264 digs, 32 blocks and 27 aces while playing in all 103 sets. Callahan ranks No. 2 in program history (first during the modern era of rally scoring) for career assists with 4,675.

A native of Ankeny, Iowa, Heinzerling has taken on an increased role this season and has taken advantage while ranking third on the team with 236 kills (2.48 per set). Heinzerling is hitting .203 from the outside and has contributed 41 blocks. Heinzerling’s 21 kills in the five-set victory over No. 14 Dakota Wesleyan marked a career high. She has reached 10 or more kills in 10 separate matches this season.

A transfer from Fort Hays State University and Lincoln Pius X graduate, Rodaway has made a significant impact in her first season with the Bulldogs. While playing on the right side, Rodaway has accumulated 149 kills (fourth most on the team), 40 digs and 27 blocks. She sports a hitting percentage of .249. Rodaway’s season high for kills was 12 in the four-set home win over Doane.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad will enter the national tournament with an overall record of 16-11. Concordia earned an automatic berth to nationals thanks to its GPAC tournament runner-up claim. The Bulldogs are set to appear on the national stage for the third year in a row.

Callahan selected as CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree

Nov. 18, 2021

2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Volleyball Teams

SEWARD, Neb. – Another award has been handed out to Concordia University Volleyball standout Tara Callahan. On Thursday (Nov. 18), Callahan landed on the 2021 Academic All-District® Volleyball Team, as announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Callahan is the first member of the volleyball program to ever earn the all-district award from CoSIDA. Callahan was placed on the NAIA District 3 team, which covers the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The 2021 Academic All-District® Volleyball Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NAIA, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III.

A native of Brady, Neb., Callahan was named a 2021 Second Team All-GPAC selection on Tuesday. Callahan has been a constant during the rise of the program over the past few seasons. She has earned some form of All-GPAC recognition for the fifth year in a row. She garnered honorable mention status in 2017 and 2018 and then First Team All-GPC placement in 2019 and 2020. The two-time NAIA Honorable Mention All-American has racked up 1,016 assists this season for an average of 9.86 assists per set. She’s also notched 264 digs, 32 blocks and 27 aces while playing in all 103 sets. Callahan ranks No. 2 in program history (first during the modern era of rally scoring) for career assists with 4,675. She’s played an instrumental role in Concordia reaching the national tournament for a third-straight season. Callahan earned her degree from Concordia in Psychology and is a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid-December.

Right sides power opening round win over Ave Maria

Nov. 20, 2021

SEWARD, Neb. – With one more chance to play in front of the home fans this season, the 19th-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team did not disappoint. While riding the hot left hands of Arleigh Costello and Carly Rodaway on the right side, the Bulldogs toppled visiting Ave Maria University (Fla.), 25-12, 25-23, 25-19, on Saturday (Nov. 20) afternoon as part of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. Concordia made its fourth all-time national tournament appearance while the visitors from Florida made their first.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s program will be headed to the final site of the national tournament for a third-straight season. Concordia has won six of its last seven matches to move to 17-11 overall.

“I was proud of the resilience of our team,” Boldt said. “We talk about being tough after 20, and we were certainly that in the second set. We also talk about earning our way there. I think we had that mentality. I was happy to see us take the match into our own hands.

“We made a little bit of an adjustment towards the middle of the second set. We liked the matchup for our right sides so we fed them the ball. They did a really good job. That was probably the best game that both of those two have had combined. They really showed out today.”

The Gyrenes (22-8) seemed to take a moment to settle into their surroundings after a long trip up north. The opening set did not take long. The Bulldogs came out ablaze, hitting .433 with 17 kills (four errors) in the first set. But Ave Maria decided it wasn’t going down that easily and turned the second set into a nail-biter.

Trailing 22-20 in the second set, Concordia responded with the help of a kill from Gabi Nordaker and then back-to-back service aces from Lexie Kreizel. Set point later came on a Gyrene attack error. The Bulldogs made headway in that set when setters Tara Callahan and Bree Burtwistle made a point of passing to the right side. Costello and Rodaway both put away a team high 11 kills. Costello hit a sizzling .625 and ultimately ended the match with her final kill of the day.

Said Costello, “It was really fun getting to travel last year (to New Orleans) but being here with the home crowd is a great way to end our home season and move on. Our crowd and our fans are awesome so it was great to be back here for nationals … We just have such a balanced offense. All of our hitters are amazing and we have two amazing setters who can get us the ball.”

On the other side of the net, Cabriella Bouterse (12 kills) impressed with her hard hitting from the outside. Rita Campos added eight kills and five blocks. The Gyrenes were outhit for the match, .308 to .111. They reached the opening round after winning The Sun Conference tournament.

In addition to the 11 kills apiece from Costello and Rodaway, Camryn Opfer notched nine kills (and 12 digs) and Nordaker totaled eight kills and four blocks. Kreizel collected four aces and five digs. Callahan (27 assists) and Burtwistle (17 assists) combined for 44 assists while leading an attack that racked up 48 kills for the day. Burtwistle added eight digs in the back row.

Said Boldt, “I was glad to see our hitters work in transition to put themselves in good positions to attack … They’re a physical team. I think they would have matched up well in the GPAC as far as physicality goes. We’ve been through the conference ringer so we’re definitely prepared for these types of matches.”

Pool play assignments for the final site of the 2021 NAIA Volleyball National Championships will be announced on Sunday by the NAIA. The final 24 teams left standing will be divided into eight pools with three squads in each of them. Pool play will take place Nov. 30-Dec. 1 with bracket play to follow Dec. 2-4. All matches in pool and bracket play will be staged inside the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Concordia placed in Pool B along with Oregon Tech, Viterbo

Nov. 21, 2021

NAIA Release

Pool Play Matches
Nov. 30 – vs. Oregon Tech, 3 p.m. (Court 2)
Dec. 1 – vs. Viterbo (Wis.), 10:30 a.m. (Court 3)

SEWARD, Neb. – One of 24 teams remaining in the NAIA national championship field, the Concordia University Volleyball team learned of its NAIA pool play assignment on Sunday (Nov. 21). The Bulldogs have been grouped with second-ranked Viterbo University (Wis.) and 25th-ranked Oregon Tech as part of Pool B in the 2021 NAIA Volleyball National Championship. For the third season in a row, Head Coach Ben Boldt will lead the program to the final site of the tournament. Seven GPAC teams will make their way to Sioux City, Iowa for pool play.

The number of teams at the final site shrunk from 32 teams as recently as 2019 to 24 teams beginning in 2020. Those 24 squads have been separated into eight groupings for pool play that will take place Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City. The Tyson has served as the host for the NAIA Volleyball National Championship since 2008. Because of postponements caused by COVID-19, the national tournament was staged in late April/early May this past spring.

Concordia (17-11) earned an automatic berth to the national tournament via its runner up finish in the GPAC tournament. While hosting an opening round match on Saturday, the Bulldogs defeated Ave Maria University (Fla.), 25-12, 25-23, 25-19. The Bulldogs got starring performances from the right side with Arleigh Costello and Carly Rodaway both putting away 11 kills. Concordia’s statistical leaders this season are Camryn Opfer in kills (344) and digs (333), Tara Callahan in assists (1,043), Gabi Nordaker in hitting percentage (.362) and blocks (103) and Kennedy VanScoy in aces (28). Callahan has pushed her career assist total to 4,702. Meanwhile, Opfer’s 898 career kills rank as the most among active Bulldogs (and are the 13th most in school history). Four other Concordia hitters have at least 100 kills in 2021: Nordaker (312), Erica Heinzerling (240), Rodaway (160), Kalee Wiltfong (131) and Costello (102).

Viterbo breezed past Indiana South Bend in the opening round and moved to 38-1 overall. The V-Hawks suffered their only loss this season back on Aug. 28 in a four-set decision at the hands of Midland. Viterbo dominated North Star Athletic Conference postseason honors, taking the conference coach, player, offensive player and libero of the year awards. Meanwhile, Oregon Tech sits at 24-6 overall after it ousted Westmont (Calif.) in straight sets as part of the opening round. Two Owls were recognized on the Cascade Collegiate Conference’s first team.

One team will emerge from each of the eight pools. The pool winners will be placed in an eight-team, single-elimination bracket. National championship bracket play will take place Dec. 2-4.

Advance tickets for NAIA National Championship matches can be purchased online through the Tyson Events Center at: https://www.tysoncenter.com/events/detail/naia-womens-volleyball-national-championship-1.

Balanced team effort puts Bulldogs within one win of national quarters

Nov. 30, 2021

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – There was nothing easy about it on Tuesday (Nov. 30), but the 19th-ranked Concordia University Volleyball team has been in these situations before. One of many contributors to the victory, Arleigh Costello put the contest away with a match-point kill while locking up the program’s seventh all-time win at the national tournament. The Bulldogs held off No. 25 Oregon Tech, 26-24, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23, as part of NAIA Volleyball National Championship pool play.

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad moved to 18-11 overall and is now one win away from reaching the NAIA national quarterfinals for the second season in a row.

“Any time you get to this point you’ve got to earn it,” Boldt said. “It’s going to be tight matches against good teams. They called timeout late in the second set – this has been one of our things – concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. Those are two-point, three-point sets the whole time. It’s mental more than physical and that was a big message of ours. I’m really proud of how we came through.”

The national stage is nothing new for the likes of veterans Tara Callahan, Gabi Nordaker, Camryn Opfer and many others. It’s a group that isn’t afraid of having to ‘earn it.’ Concordia did just that while hammering out respective set-by-set kill totals of 20, 14, 19 and 18. It also took a little resilience in the first set when the Bulldogs found themselves trailing 21-15. A run of six-straight points was punctuated by a block and a kill from Kalee Wiltfong, and Concordia was on its way.

Oregon Tech (24-7) showed some grit of its own in coming back to win the second set and making it a nail-biter that nearly went five. Nicole Reyes (match high 17 kills) was particularly tough to stop from the outside. Faith Houck-Wylie (16 kills and five blocks) had a nice day in the middle. The Owls were feisty enough to perch within striking distance despite disadvantages in hitting percentage, .281 to .194, kills, 71-54, digs, 86-65, and blocks, 13-10.

Said Boldt, “We saw a matchup we liked with our right sides, but as the match went along, we saw something that was open in the middle. It was a balanced effort …That was a warrior of a team we were playing there. They went five earlier today – and playing two matches in a day is tough. They played really, really well. We stayed tough.”

Nordaker led the way with 15 kills and seven blocks. Four of her teammates notched at least 10 kills: Opfer (14), Erica Heinzerling (13), Wiltfong (11) and Costello (10). Carly Rodaway also added eight kills. The setter combo of Callahan (35 assists) and Burtwistle (24 assists) piled up 59 combined assists with high efficiency rates coming in the middle and on the right side. Burtwistle also paced the team with 21 digs while Opfer produced 18 digs. That’s called balance.

“Our bench is so deep,” said Heinzerling, who got out to a hot start with six kills in the opening set. “Everyone contributes in so many ways. It’s amazing to see people step up and fill a role. Everyone did their job, everyone stepped up and everyone held each other accountable.”

On day two (Dec. 1) of pool play, the Bulldogs will take on the highest rated team in Pool B – No. 2 Viterbo University (Wis.), which got past Oregon Tech in five sets earlier in the day on Tuesday. The V-Hawks (39-1) have won 32 matches in a row since a four-set loss at the hands of Midland back in August. Wednesday’s first serve is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CT. The winner will be bound for the NAIA national quarterfinals while the loser will be eliminated from the tournament.

Opfer stars as Bulldogs make return to NAIA national quarterfinals

Dec. 1, 2021

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Those who have watched Concordia University Volleyball all season have seen a team grow up quickly. There’s a calm confidence that permeates the Bulldogs whenever they find themselves in tight matches. It also helps to have Camryn Opfer on your side. Opfer mashed 21 kills, including one for match point as No. 19 Concordia edged second-ranked Viterbo, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 22-25, 15-11, with a spot in the NAIA National Championship quarterfinals on the line on Wednesday (Dec. 1).

Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has grown accustomed to winning at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, home to the final site of the national tournament. The Bulldogs won the NAIA’s Pool B thanks to victories over No. 25 Oregon Tech and Viterbo.

“You have to earn it. It’s not going to be given to you,” said Boldt of the latest five-set battle. “We talked to them about enjoying the battle. There was a point in time where it looked like we were taking control in the third set into the fourth set and they got back into it. In those moments, we talked about being true to our training and doing it together – enjoy that battle. It was a fun match.”

Considering the stage and what was at stake, this was an all-timer of a performance for Opfer, who racked up 21 kills while hitting an otherworldly .514 from the outside. The Seward High School product also notched 16 digs as part of a defensive effort that limited one of the nation’s most prolific attacks to a .138 hitting percentage. North Star Athletic Association Player of the Year Miah Garant hit .167 (12 kills, six errors) while contending with the reach of Bulldog middle Gabi Nordaker (13 blocks).

The bench for Concordia reached a fever pitch during a third set that saw the Bulldogs rattle off 11-straight points, turning a 12-12 tie into a 23-12 lead. Opfer and Rodaway (17 kills) pounded away from the pins while being set by Tara Callahan (37 assists) and Bree Burtwistle (15 assists). Callahan’s passing (team high 19 digs) also helped the Bulldogs earn a 7-1 lead in the fourth set.

With its own season on the line, Viterbo (39-2) persevered, roared back to win the fourth set and owned a 5-1 lead in the fifth. This was familiar territory for Concordia, which has now played in 11 five-set matches this season. With the fifth knotted 11-11, the Bulldogs rose to the occasion and put up the final four points of the match. Boldt credited the serving of Kennedy VanScoy down the stretch for making life difficult on the V-Hawks. Fittingly, it was Opfer who clinched the victory.

Said Opfer, “We knew from the beginning we were going to come out strong. I’m just so proud of every single one of us. We all did our part. Right before the first point of the game, we were like, ‘If we each do our part, we got this.’ I’m just so proud of everyone.”

Headed to the national quarterfinals for the second season in a row, Concordia hit .220 on Wednesday and owned a significant advantage in blocks, 17-9. On the attack, Erica Heinzerling added eight kills and Arleigh Costello contributed seven. Heinzerling also got in on six blocks. Across the net, Maya Roberts paced Viterbo with 18 kills. Viterbo had not tasted defeat since its four-set loss to Midland on Aug. 28.

Named to the 2020 National Championship All-Tournament Team, Opfer enjoys the pressure that comes with big moments. Said Boldt, “That’s who Cam is. Sometimes the matchup works for her, sometimes it doesn’t. There was a lot of gameplay between our coaching staff and Viterbo’s coaching staff when it comes to starting rotations, and that figures into how they’re matched up. Cam got put in a good spot, and she did the rest. That’s who Cam is. It’s no surprise to us.”

The Bulldogs will quickly turn around and play in the NAIA national quarterfinals at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday. As of early Wednesday afternoon, Concordia’s opponent remained up in the air. It will play the winner of Pool G, home to Marian (Ind.), Midland and Montana Tech.

After receiving a Gatorade bath courtesy of the players, Boldt let his team know it has to refocus. Said Boldt, “It was an awesome celebration and it was fun to be in that moment. After that I said, ‘Good work, ladies, it only gets tougher from here.’”

Special run concludes in dramatic quarterfinal match

Dec. 2, 2021

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – There was going to be heartbreak for one side or the other in a five-set nail-biter in the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship. The Concordia University Volleyball team wouldn’t have it any other way. It just wasn’t meant to be on Thursday (Dec. 2). The Bulldogs were edged in five by seventh-ranked Marian University (Ind.), 30-28, 21-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-12, in a rematch from the 2020 national tournament.

During a journey with both peaks and valleys, Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad shook off a 4-6 start to GPAC play (then ninth place in the conference) and advanced all the way to the national quarterfinals. That showing equaled a program standard for deepest national tournament run.

“As a coach personally, I’ve been very fulfilled in the effort that our team has given us, the buy-in that they’ve had with us,” Boldt said. “When we think about the college experience and what you want a team to be, that’s what this team is. That will be our takeaway. We talk about love, trust, hard work and sacrifice. Those are our core values, and I feel like we’ve lived those out.”

This was the type of match where being slightly out of position on an attack, block or dig can be the difference between winning and losing. The margins were finer than the print on an Aspirin label on Thursday. Both teams produced exactly 68 kills and exactly 105 digs. Down 6-1 in the fifth set, Concordia (19-12) displayed its mettle once again.

The Bulldogs rallied back to take an 11-10 lead on an Arleigh Costello kill. It was then even at 12-12 before the Knights (35-2) rattled off the final three points and celebrated the victory. Match point came via Averi Lanman’s kill from the middle. Marian played just a bit cleaner in the fifth set with three errors to Concordia’s six.

“It was an even match obviously – it went 15-12 in the fifth,” Boldt said. “We were even in kills and we were even in digs. We had a couple more errors than they did. I think that was the difference in the match. They blocked really well too. It kind of took us out of some of the things we wanted to do, but the mentality our team had was great. We were taking swings fearlessly. That’s really what we ask of them in big moments.”

The moment was not too big in the fourth set when the Bulldogs brushed off a 17-15 deficit. After a timeout, Concordia got rolling with five-straight points. The final tally in that sequence came on a combined block from Gabi Nordaker and Carly Rodaway. For set point, Rodaway teamed up with Kalee Wiltfong on a denial that set the stage for the 12th five-set match this season for the Bulldogs.

It was another outstanding national tournament for outside hitter Camryn Opfer, who accumulated 15 kills and 22 digs versus Marian (one day after a 21-kill, 16-dig performance). In the middle, Nordaker (15 kills, seven blocks) dominated in stretches while polishing off a stellar second collegiate season. Also key contributors on the attack, Erica Heinzerling (13) and Rodaway (11) reached double figures in kills. Four Concordia players besides Opfer turned in 10 or more digs: Bree Burtwistle (22), Rebecca Gebhardt (14), Tara Callahan (13) and Lexie Kreizel (10). Callahan added three aces and Cassidy Knust had two.

It will be strange next season without No. 4 at setter. Callahan was a five-time All-GPAC honoree who piled up 4,816 career assists. She served as a constant during what has been the most successful run in program history.

Said Boldt, “It will be different (without Tara). I didn’t know what this team was going to look like this year after having graduated so many seniors from the year before. You get them for four years – sometimes five – and you figure out who’s going to play well together. We thank Tara for everything she’s done. Obviously she’s been a rock.”

The national champion in 2019, Marian moves on to play in the national semifinals on Friday. The Knights got a match high 17 kills from Skyler Van Note on Thursday. Jai-Lyn Norwood led the way with eight blocks and helped Marian to a 16-13 team blocking advantage. The Knights managed to avenge their loss to Concordia from this past spring.

Under the leadership of Ben and Angie Boldt, the Bulldogs have reached at least the national round of 16 in three-straight years. The program owns an overall record of 62-25 during that three-year stretch. Each of Concordia’s eight all-time national tournament wins have come over the past three seasons.

Opfer, Nordaker recognized with AVCA All-Region accolades

Dec. 3, 2021

2021 NAIA AVCA All-Region Awards

SEWARD, Neb. – Key figures in another run to the NAIA national quarterfinals, Camryn Opfer and Gabi Nordaker have earned recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The coaches’ organization named Opfer and Nordaker to its 2021 NAIA All-West Central Region Team, as announced on Friday (Dec. 3). Opfer was placed on the 14-member All-Region team while Nordaker was chosen as an honorable mention recipient.

The accolades have been plentiful for Opfer, who was tabbed First Team All-GPAC this season after garnering second team all-conference status in both 2019 and 2020. The Seward High School product enjoyed her finest season yet while posting career highs in kills (394) and digs (389) in 2021. She also hit .221 from the outside and added 45 blocks. Named to the 2020 National Championship All-Tournament Team, Opfer has pushed her career kill total to 948, a figure that ranks 10th on the program’s all-time list. In 2019, the AVCA named Opfer the West Central Region Freshman of the Year. Opfer shined in the five-set national tournament win over No. 2 Viterbo University (Wis.) in tallying 21 kills and 16 digs.

Nordaker joined Opfer with First Team All-GPAC recognition this fall. The Omaha native and Millard West High School alum finished the 2021 campaign with 347 kills and led the team with 130 blocks (1.08/set) and with a .354 hitting percentage. Nordaker has been garnered All-Region honorable mention accolades for the second year in a row. She was also chosen as Second Team All-GPAC in 2020. Nordaker elevated her game at the national tournament, piling up 13 blocks in the victory over Viterbo. Her season high for kills was 22 in a five-set match versus College of Saint Mary.

The Bulldogs concluded the season with a 19-12 overall record after a five-set defeat at the hands of No. 7 Marian University (Ind.) in the NAIA national quarterfinals on Thursday. Concordia has reached at least the round of 16 in each of the past three seasons.

Opfer selected to National Championship All-Tournament Team for second time

Dec. 5, 2021

NAIA Release

SEWARD, Neb. – At the conclusion of the national championship match played on Saturday (Dec. 4), Concordia University Volleyball standout Camryn Opfer was named to the 2021 NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team. Opfer garnered the same recognition at the 2020 national tournament. The Seward High School product helped lead the Bulldogs back to the national quarterfinals for the second season in a row.

Also recently chosen as First Team All-GPAC and as an NAIA All-West Central Region team selection by the America Volleyball Coaches Association, Opfer is racking up career accolades. In 2021, she enjoyed her finest season yet while posting career highs in kills (394) and digs (389) in 2021. Opfer also hit .221 from the outside and added 45 blocks. She has pushed her career kill total to 948, a figure that ranks 10th on the program’s all-time list. In 2019, the AVCA named Opfer the West Central Region Freshman of the Year.

Over this season’s four national tournament matches, Opfer totaled 59 kills, 68 digs and seven blocks while hitting .236 from the outside. Opfer put together an especially memorable performance in the win over No. 2 Viterbo. In that match, she went off for 21 kills, 16 digs and four blocks and hit an eye popping .514. Said Head Coach Ben Boldt afterwards, “That’s who Cam is. Cam got put in a good spot, and she did the rest. That’s who Cam is. It’s no surprise to us.”

Concordia concluded the 2021 campaign at 19-12 overall. The Bulldogs are one of four NAIA volleyball programs to advance to national tournament bracket play in each of the past three seasons.

2021 All-Tournament Team

Camryn Opfer, Concordia (Neb.)

Olivia Galas, Bellevue (Neb.)

Bekah Horstman, Northwestern (Iowa)

Sadie Lott, Providence (Mont.)

Callie Henson, Central Methodist (Mo.)

Avari Ridgeway, Corban (Ore.)

Miah Garant, Viterbo (Wis.)

Anna Holen, Jamestown (N.D.)

Skyler Van Note, Marian (Ind.)

Isadora Stojovic, Missouri Baptist

Giovanna Tapigliani, Missouri Baptist

Nada Meawad, Park (Mo.)

Noura Meawad, Park (Mo.)

Debora Bernardi, Park (Mo.)

Defensive Player of the Tournament: Ellie Holen, Jamestown (N.D.)

Setter of the Tournament: Manuela Vargas, Missouri Baptist

Attacker of the Tournament: Nada Meawad, Park (Mo.)

Tournament Most Valuable Player: Manuela Vargas