On the strength of an appearance in the national quarterfinals, the Concordia Volleyball program has achieved its best ever postseason ranking. The Bulldogs landed at No. 6 in the NAIA Postseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
For the second year in a row, Camryn Opfer has been named to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship All-Tournament Team. Opfer totaled 59 kills, 68 digs and seven blocks as the Bulldogs advanced to the national quarterfinals.
Key figures in another run to the NAIA national quarterfinals, Camryn Opfer and Gabi Nordaker have earned selection as All-West Central Region award winners from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
The margins could not have been any finer on Thursday (Dec. 2) as the 19th-ranked Bulldogs saw their national tournament run come to an end. Concordia fell in five sets at the hands of No. 7 Marian in the NAIA quarterfinals.
A national quarterfinalist for the second season in a row, Concordia will face No. 7 Marian at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday (Dec. 2). The winner will advance to play in the national semifinals on Friday.
It was another heart stopper, but the Bulldogs were the ones celebrating a berth in the NAIA national quarterfinals for a second season in a row. Camryn Opfer put away match point and finished with 21 kills and 16 digs in a starring role.
Five Bulldogs posted at least 10 kills and another four notched at least 10 digs as part of a balanced effort on Tuesday (Nov. 30) that has put No. 19 Concordia within one win of the NAIA national quarterfinals.
National tournament pool play action from the Tyson Events Center will get underway on Tuesday, Nov. 30. The Bulldogs are preparing to take on No. 25 Oregon Tech and No. 2 Viterbo. Pool play winners advance to the NAIA national quarterfinals.
As announced on Sunday (Nov. 21) by the NAIA, the Bulldogs have been placed in Pool B of the NAIA National Championship, along with Oregon Tech and Viterbo. Concordia has advanced to the final site for a third year in a row.
The work on the right side of Arleigh Costello and Carly Rodaway made a major difference in the 19th-ranked Bulldogs taking care of Ave Maria in straight sets on Saturday (Nov. 20). Concordia has advanced to the final site of the national tournament.
The making of a national tournament volleyball team at Concordia did not happen overnight. The core of the first Bulldog squad ever to break through and reach the national tournament all arrived in the last two to four years.
A fifth-straight appearance in the Tachikara - NAIA Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll yielded the first top-15 ranking for the Concordia University volleyball program since October of 2000.
As her college head coach looked on, Carli (Smith) Lindeman worked the sideline at Heartland Lutheran High School like a savvy veteran.