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.
As part of a weekend at home entertaining Briar Cliff and Morningside, the sixth-ranked Bulldogs will celebrate a class of six seniors. Concordia has won each of its last 12 sets in a dominant stretch of play within the GPAC.
For their starring performances in wins last week over Mount Marty and No. 14 Dordt, Bree Burtwistle and Gabi Nordaker have been honored with GPAC Player of the Week awards. Burtwistle was last week's NAIA Setter of the Week.
Concordia just keeps operating like a machine. The eighth-ranked Bulldogs hit .345 on Saturday (Sept. 24) while speeding past No. 14 Dordt in straight sets. Concordia has moved to 14-1 overall (5-1 GPAC).
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.
The Bulldogs responded to a first-set push from Mount Marty and took control of the match, winning 25-23, 25-13, 25-16, in Yankton on Wednesday (Sept. 21). Gabi Nordaker floored 13 kills and hit .632 to pace No. 8 Concordia.
For the first time in her collegiate career, Bree Burtwistle has been named both the GPAC and NAIA National Setter of the Week. Burtwistle pulled in the award after leading an offensive attack that overwhelmed Doane and No. 13 College of Saint Mary.
The grind of the GPAC season is in full swing. After sweeping away Doane and No. 13 College of Saint Mary last week, the Bulldogs are focused on road trips to Mount Marty and Dordt. Concordia stands at 12-1 overall.
In a crisp homecoming performance, the eighth-ranked Bulldogs defeated No. 13 College of Saint Mary in straight sets. Gabi Nordaker and Ashley Keck led the stunningly dominant performance with 13 kills apiece.
A week since last time out, the eighth-ranked Bulldogs got big nights from their middles and tightened up the service game in a straight-sets win at Doane. Gabi Nordaker totaled 11 kills and five blocks to pace the victors.
This wasn't exactly how they expected their senior seasons to look, but these Bulldogs aren't focusing on the negative. They are grateful for the chance to continue the program's rise.
Following a national tournament appearance in 2019, the Concordia Volleyball Program enters 2020 ready for big moments. The Bulldogs return four All-GPAC performers.
October 14, 2015, was a big day for the Concordia volleyball program. The Bulldogs stunned undefeated and second-ranked Midland while remaining in the hunt for a GPAC title.
Senior-to-be Tara Callahan and her teammates are quite determined not to let the current situation halt the momentum of the volleyball program. Callahan appears primed for a special senior season.
Her two-year run as a graduate assistant at Concordia made Abby Saehler realize coaching was right for her. Now the former Bulldog is helping build the program at Grand Canyon.
Says head coach Ben Boldt in response to the current situation, "Our priorities don’t change." A breakthrough 2019 campaign has the program thirsting for more. We take an inside look at the program during the health pandemic.
The 2019 Concordia volleyball team surpassed all expectations and set new standards for the program by reaching the national round of 16 and by finishing at No. 14 in the NAIA postseason poll.
Freshman Kalee Wiltfong has received plenty of support from her family, which is proud to see her repping Bulldog blue, just like her older brother Riley and sister-in-law Taylor used to do in the recent past.
By embracing the idea of 'being the woman,' Emmie Noyd's career has taken off and has helped lift Concordia volleyball to new heights. The first team All-GPAC performer now gets set for an appearance at nationals.
The 2019 Concordia volleyball team has made history as the first in program history to advance all the way to the final site of the NAIA National Championship. The announcement came on Monday (Nov. 18).