No. 3 Concordia remains undefeated in the month of October as the Bulldogs best the Mount Marty Lancers in four sets
Junior setter Savannah Shelburne (34) comes off a dig as junior outside hitter Ashley Keck (6) reaches to send the pass back over the net.
Photo credit: Josiah Seabaugh
By Cohen Carpenter
The No. 3 Concordia Bulldogs volleyball team remained undefeated in the month of October after besting the Mount Marty Lancers in four sets Wednesday night, 23-25, 25-17, 25-12, and 25-19.
With Mount Marty coming into the matchup with an underwhelming 4-7 conference record while having only won one game on the road this season, and with the Bulldogs only having lost one home game this year, it was quite unexpected when the Lancers took the first set.
Down 9-4 early on in the opening frame, Mount Marty proceeded to win 21 of the next 35 points to take set one, 23-25. The push from the Lancers included multiple three point or more runs while the visiting team hit a team-best .292 clip.
In the second set, Mount Marty continued to go blow-for-blow with one of the nation’s best offenses, having the Bulldogs tied at nine early on. Nevertheless, coach Ben Boldt’s squad found their rhythm and truly began to run away with things after the second and into the third.
“I think our offense started to work a whole lot better,” said Boldt. “We did better passing the ball. I thought we were a whole lot more disciplined on defense. Those things coupled together kind of spring-boarded it.”
A springboard is an apt comparison. To start the third set, Concordia won the first five points, and then after a service error, won the next five points. Omitting errors made by Concordia, Mount Marty didn’t earn their first point until a Caitlin Guenther kill made it 12-3.
Highlighting this offensive downpour were names such as junior Ashley Keck. The kill leader for the Bulldogs continued to add to her total with 11 more Wednesday night to go along with 18 digs and a .226 hitting percentage. Also in double digits were junior Kya Scott and senior Gabi Nordaker, with 11 and 12, respectively.
The duo of Scott and Nordaker, along with sophomore Ella Waters and junior Addie Kirkegaard, constituted an imposing force in the middle of the court versus Mount Marty. Concordia had nine total team blocks and 18 blocking assists, 10 more than the Lancers. Accounting for these assists at the net were the aforementioned Scott, Kirkegaard, Waters and Nordaker, who led the pack with eight.
“That’s who we need to be,” said Boldt, “We need to continue to be physical on the net. That’s where I think we can gain an advantage with our blocking numbers.”
Supporting the front line were defensive specialists and seniors Cassidy Knust and Rececca Gebhardt, who boasted 14 and 25 digs, respectively.
In the back court, the junior duo of Savannah Shelburne and Lily Psencik again led the team in assists, totaling 50 between the two and with Shelburne adding a service ace to boot.
The team’s record is now 19-2 overall and 12-1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. To close out the month with an undefeated record, Concordia will have to remain flawless versus Hastings College in their next matchup. Tip off versus the 13-8 Broncos will be 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The Bulldogs will have to contend with a Hastings team that is riding a four-game winning streak as the two squads will face off in Hastings.