GPAC combatants that went to five sets twice during the regular season will clash in the conference semifinals on Wednesday. The Bulldogs are a confident team following last week's straight sets win at No. 5 Midland.
Focused and on a mission, the Bulldogs took it to No. 5 Midland in the GPAC quarterfinals on Saturday (Nov. 6) and emerged with a win in straight sets. Concordia has beaten three top 15 opponents over its last four matches.
Four years was just not enough for Tara Callahan, who returned to the Bulldogs in 2021 to provide steady leadership and consistently excellent play on the court. Her journey has included many mountaintop moments and unshakable bonds.
Familiar foes Concordia and Midland will go head-to-head on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with wins in five of their last six matches.
Three-straight wins will carry the Bulldogs into the postseason on a high. Behind the attacking trio of Gabi Nordaker, Camryn Opfer and Kalee Wiltfong, Concordia took care of Hastings in straight sets on Tuesday (Nov. 2).
For her starring performance in last week's five-set win at No. 14 Northwestern, Gabi Nordaker has been named the GPAC Attacker of the Week. This marks the second career GPAC weekly honor for Nordaker.
The 2021 regular season will come to a close on Tuesday as the Bulldogs host Hastings inside Friedrich Arena. Concordia is coming off back-to-back five-set wins over top 15 nationally ranked opponents.
While playing another five-setter, the Bulldogs outlasted No. 14 Northwestern behind 21 kills from Camryn Opfer on Saturday (Oct. 30). Concordia (13-10, 8-7 GPAC) won in Orange City, Iowa, for the first time since 2015.
Saturday's matchup with No. 14 Northwestern will come with major GPAC and national tournament implications attached to it. The Bulldogs hope to build upon last week's come-from-behind win over No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan.
No, not this time. Tired of coming up short in five-setters, the Bulldogs rallied to topple No. 15 Dakota Wesleyan in five on Saturday (Oct. 23). Camryn Opfer sparked Concordia with 25 kills, 20 digs and five blocks.
It was another season of national prominence for Concordia Volleyball, which was led by a senior class that trusted the process throughout four years. The likes of Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer helped lead the Bulldogs to a No. 4 national ranking.
It's a transcendent class that has helped Concordia Volleyball reach heights it had never before seen. Collectively, the group has set a new standard while living out the program's values: love, hard work, sacrifice and trust.
Bree Burtwistle knew her time was coming. It just took some patience and persistence before she could burst onto the scene as one of the NAIA's best setters. A transfer in her third year as a Bulldog, Burt is soaking up a 2022 season of winning with her best friends.
Three-straight NAIA top 15 finishes lead the Concordia Volleyball program into a 2022 campaign that comes with high hopes. The Bulldogs believe they are primed to take things a step farther after back-to-back national quarterfinal appearances.
Camryn Opfer has continued to make a name for herself within the community she has always called home. The Seward High School alum has a habit of playing big in big moments for a Concordia Volleyball program that has grabbed the national spotlight.
In terms of the approach and the goals of the Concordia Volleyball program, not much has changed since the 2021 season ended in the national quarterfinals. The Bulldogs grew in confidence this spring while 'leaning in' in anticipation of the 2022 campaign.
In a season that came with its share of challenges, the Bulldogs never gave up while advancing to the national quarterfinals for the second season in a row. The 2021 Bulldogs earned the program's best ever final national ranking.
Four years was just not enough for Tara Callahan, who returned to the Bulldogs in 2021 to provide steady leadership and consistently excellent play on the court. Her journey has included many mountaintop moments and unshakable bonds.
Ranked seventh in the NAIA in the preseason, Concordia Volleyball is ready to follow up a national quarterfinal run this past spring. "GPAC championship level effort" is the expectation.
As disjointed and unique as it was, the 2020-21 season provided plenty of rewards for staff, players and supporters of the Concordia Volleyball, which finished ranked No. 8 in the NAIA.