For the first time in program history, Concordia volleyball has claimed victory at the NAIA national tournament. Behind 16 kills from Emmie Noyd and a 13-3 block advantage, the Bulldogs defeated No. 19 Montana Tech.
The 15th-ranked Concordia volleyball team has been assigned to Pool C of the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. Pool C also includes No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 19 Montana Tech and Saint Mary (Kan.).
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.
Tara Callahan and Emmie Noyd collected first team All-GPAC honors while Camryn Opfer was named the GPAC Freshman of the Year. Five total Bulldogs earned some form of all-conference mention.
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).
Five of the 11 GPAC Setter of the Week awards in 2019 have been handed out to Tara Callahan. The junior from Brady, Neb., piled up 85 assists last week in action against No. 1 Northwestern and Doane.
Concordia will vie for its first trip to the GPAC title match since 2015 when Wednesday's semifinal gets underway at No. 8 Jamestown. The Bulldogs would host the title match Saturday with a victory.
Despite three closely contested sets with the number one team in the nation, the Bulldogs were swept in three straight sets at Northwestern. Now the attention turns to Saturday, when they host the opening round of the GPAC Tournament.
Marissa Hoerman totaled 40 digs over two GPAC matches last week and was named the GPAC Defender of the Week. The Bulldogs have now raked in six GPAC weekly awards this season.
Top-ranked Northwestern and the opening round of the GPAC tournament will make up this week's slate for the nationally-ranked Bulldogs. After heading or Orange City, Concordia will be at home on Saturday.