The string of in-state foes to begin conference play will continue this week as the second-ranked Bulldogs look ahead to matchups with Doane and No. 12 College of Saint Mary. Concordia enters the week as one of eight remaining undefeated teams in the NAIA.
The focused second-ranked Bulldogs muzzled Midland on Wednesday (Sept. 6) in a battle between NAIA top-10 ranked combatants. Maddie Paulsen shined in the middle and Concordia turned away the Warriors with the help of .342 hitting.
For her work in five victories last week, All-American setter Bree Burtwistle has been named the GPAC and NAIA National Setter of the Week. On the season, Burtwistle ranks sixth nationally with an average of 10.93 assists per set.
The Concordia-Midland rivalry will highlight a lighter week for the second-ranked Bulldogs. Coach Ben Boldt's crew went 5-0 last week and moved to 8-0 overall. As part of the action, Camryn Opfer climbed to No. 3 on the program's all-time kills list.
A perfect 4-0 weekend came to fruition on Saturday as the Bulldogs defeated Kansas Wesleyan and No. 6 Park in North Sioux City. Ashley Keck posted a team high 26 kills on the day and Concordia held its opponents to a .112 hitting percentage.
The outsides brought the heat on Friday (Sept. 1) as the Bulldogs stayed unbeaten with wins over Rocky Mountain and Mayville State at the Labor Day weekend classic. Camryn Opfer moved to No. 4 on the program's all-time kills list.
Never before has the Concordia Volleyball program owned a higher national ranking than it does currently.The Bulldogs moved from No. 4 in the preseason to No. 2 in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll released on Aug. 30.
All-American Gabi Nordaker hit an incredible .722 and Sara Huss provided the spark the Bulldogs needed as they held off No. 24 Hastings in four sets. Concordia successfully passed its first road test of the 2023 and moved to 4-0.
All-American Gabi Nordaker has been honored as the GPAC Attacker of the Week for the fourth time in her career. Nordaker hit .615 in wins over Langston and No. 11 MidAmerica Nazarene at the Bulldog Bash.
In terms of sheer number of matches, this will be the busiest week of the entire 2023 regular season for the Concordia Volleyball. The Bulldogs will be at Hastings for their GPAC opener before heading to North Sioux City for the weekend.
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.