In their first outing since being tagged as the NAIA's No. 1-ranked team, the Bulldogs toppled Briar Cliff in three sets on the road. Concordia absorbed a strong push in the first set before dominating and moving to 14-0 (7-0 GPAC).
Having just been stamped with the NAIA’s No. 1 ranking, Concordia Volleyball will shift its focus to this weekend's road trip to Sioux City. Awaiting the Bulldogs will be Briar Cliff and Morningside as the GPAC grind carries on.
On the strength of a 13-0 start to the season, Concordia Volleyball has leveled up to the NAIA No. 1 national ranking. The Bulldogs have reached that lofty perch for the first time in the program's history.
The unbeaten record has moved to 13-0, marking the best start in the tenure of Ben and Angie Boldt. The Bulldogs were balanced once again as they routed Dordt, 25-14, 25-14, 25-14, on homecoming Saturday (Sept. 23).
No. 2 Concordia got back on that GPAC grind on Wednesday (Sept. 20), absorbed a push from Mount Marty in the second set and stayed unbeaten (12-0). As part of the win, Gabi Nordaker eclipsed 1,000 career kills.
Bree Burtwistle continues to rake in GPAC Setter of the Week awards. She earned the distinction for the third time already this season while pulling in the award on Tuesday (Sept. 19). Burtwistle leads an 11-0 Bulldog squad.
Second-ranked Concordia will put unblemished records of 11-0 overall and 5-0 at home on the line this week. As part of homecoming week, the Bulldogs will host Mount Marty and Dordt in GPAC action.
A blip in the first set did not phase the Bulldogs, who responded impressively while earning a win over a top 10 team on the road. Carly Rodaway hit efficiently from the right side and Becca Gebhardt led the back row in the win at No. 9 CSM.
The Concordia Volleyball team again backed up its No. 2 national ranking while hitting .388 in a quick moving victory over visiting Doane on Wednesday (Sept. 13). The Bulldogs moved to 10-0 while getting contributions from all comers.
In spearheading the win over No. 9 Midland, Bree Burtwistle has been named GPAC Setter of the Week. The award is her second in a row and fifth of her career. Burtwistle totaled 40 assists in the victory.
The process of seeing out a vision for Bulldog volleyball is ongoing for a program guided by head coach Ben Boldt. Concordia is working to embrace the motto 'this is us' and take ownership of everything good and bad.
Ben and Angie Boldt feel right at home on the volleyball courts of Nebraska. The husband-wife coaching duo got its start working as students for John Cook at Nebraska. The Nebraska foundation is their foundation.
The 2018 team's best run of volleyball came at the end of the season. That leap forward provided optimism that the program has truly embraced the #champsb4champs moniker. Concordia hopes to use it as a springboard.
Says head coach Ben Boldt of his team's early success, "I didn’t exactly know what the competition level was going to be like. We’re really just focused on ourselves right now and trying to be a better team."
It’s a fascinating new world for the Concordia University volleyball program, still working to identify itself in a new era. Head coach Ben Boldt is on the brink of making his debut as leader of the Bulldogs.
We wrap up the spring volleyball season with insights from head coach Ben Boldt on the changing dynamics within the program. The Bulldogs emphasized speed and urgency during the volleyball-filled spring.
Members of the Bulldog volleyball program say they're training like they've never trained before while embracing a new opportunity with head coach Ben Boldt. Said Tara Callahan, "Everyone’s a little fired up."
A native of Hickman, Neb., Ben Boldt is returning home to become head volleyball coach at Concordia. His wife Angie has also been named an assistant coach on the staff. Ben and Angie previously coached at Hendrix College.
A retooled Concordia volleyball program has hopes of a bounce back 2017 season. The Bulldogs will have a completely new identity after graduating a bevy of four-year starters. Head coach Scott Mattera enters his sixth year at Concordia.
With the help of a native of Frankenmuth, Mich., the Concordia volleyball team hopes to Baarck back in 2017. A transfer from Mott Community College will help lesson the blow caused by the graduation of an accomplished senior class.