Four Bulldogs had 10 or more kills led by 19 from freshman Kalee Wiltfong in Sunday (Nov. 3)'s four-set home win over Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia (22-4, 11-4 GPAC) celebrated its senior day prior to first serve.
A showdown on Halloween went the way of No. 8 Jamestown in five sets. The Jimmies held a big advantage on the block and stifled the Concordia attack. The Bulldogs had their six-match win streak snapped.
The final home matches of the regular season are up next for No. 17 Concordia. The Bulldogs will host No. 8 Jamestown on Thursday and Dakota Wesleyan on Sunday.
Middles Emmie Noyd and Kalee Wiltfong combined for 24 of the team's 35 kills in a straight-sets win at Mount Marty on Saturday (Oct. 26). The Bulldogs have won six in a row to improve to 21-3 overall.
It was stressful, but the Bulldogs found a win to get another win on the road. Concordia escaped Sioux City with a five-set victory over Briar Cliff while led by 15 or more kills from three players.
Now sporting a national ranking for the first time in more than three years, the Bulldogs hope to keep pace near the top of the GPAC standings. Concordia will be at both Briar Cliff and Mount Marty this weekend.
After more than three years absent from the rankings, the Concordia volleyball program has returned to the NAIA top 25 poll. The Bulldogs landed at No. 17 in the poll released on Wednesday (Oct. 23).
Coach Ben Boldt's squad is on a roll. The Bulldogs have now won four in a row and six of their last seven within GPAC play. Freshman Camryn Opfer sizzled with 14 kills in Saturday (Oct. 19)'s win over No. 22 Dordt.
The third-place Bulldogs are getting set to host No. 22 Dordt at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Both teams have won five of their last six matches. The Defenders have won six in a row in the series since 2014.
As a result of leading Concordia to a 2-0 week, junior setter Tara Callahan has been named the GPAC Setter of the Week. It marks the third time this season that Callahan has earned the award.
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.