In representation of the Concordia Volleyball, Tara Callahan and Gabi Nordaker earned recognition on the All-Midwest Sports Net Volleyball teams, announced on Nov. 20.
Junior middle Mariah Schamp’s best season in a Bulldog uniform has landed her on the GPAC’s second team, as announced by the conference on Wednesday.
The rescheduled Concordia matchup at Hastings slated for Saturday (Nov. 21) has been canceled. The Bulldogs (12-3 GPAC) have now finished GPAC regular-season action.
Idle since Oct. 29, the Bulldogs will now wait until Nov. 21 to finish their GPAC regular-season slate. Concordia and Hastings are set to play in Hastings on Nov. 21.
There were times on Saturday night when Concordia volleyball appeared poised to pull off a stunner over No. 6 Midland in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals in Fremont, Neb. The Bulldogs outlasted the Warriors in the first set, but Midland rallied for a 26-28, 25-12, 25-21, 25-20 win over head coach Scott Mattera’s hard-charging crew. The loss completes the 2013 season for Concordia, which went 17-14 overall.
For the seventh time in her career, Tara Callahan has been named the GPAC Setter of the Week. The senior from Brady, Neb., helped the Bulldogs to two GPAC wins last week.
On Monday evening, it was determined that Concordia's match at Hastings set for Tuesday (Nov. 3) would be postponed. A makeup date is yet to be announced.
In back-to-back nights at Walz, the Bulldogs celebrated season sweeps of in-state rivals. On Thursday (Oct. 29), Doane gave Concordia a tight three-set battle. The Bulldogs are now 12-3.
Another GPAC Nebraska foe fell victim to the Bulldogs as they crisply took care of College of Saint Mary on Wednesday (Oct. 28). Concordia moved its win streak to four as the home stand continued.
Currently 5-0 this season against Nebraska GPAC foes, the Bulldogs have two more in-state rivals on the schedule. Concordia will host College of Saint Mary on Wednesday and Doane on Thursday.
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.