Bulldog volleyball survives back-and-forth contest in NAIA championships against Dakota Wesleyan
The volleyball team plays in the GPAC semifinals (photo from previous game).
Photo credit: Kai Olbrich
By Kai Olbrich
Sports Editor
In a back-and-forth match on Dec. 3, the No. 4 Concordia University Volleyball team defeated the No. 25 Dakota Wesleyan Tigers 3-2 and earned its second win of the 2025 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Volleyball Championships.
The Bulldogs took the first set 25-23, but the Tigers fought back, taking set two 25-22. Concordia won 25-22 in the third, Dakota Wesleyan evened it up with a 25-20 fourth set, and the Bulldogs closed it out with a 15-9 deciding fifth set.
The final set count and most major statistics were very even in this game, a far cry from Concordia’s 3-0 dominant sweep of the Tigers back in October. Dakota Wesleyan led this match in hitting percentage, .138 to Concordia’s .136. The Bulldogs led in total kills, 69-60, and digs, 117-111.
Senior Ashley Keck led the game in kills with 27 off 83 attacks. She also led the team in hitting percentage (for those with two-plus kills) with .265. Keck joined sophomore Shandy Fa’ali’i with a team-high 29 digs. Seniors Savannah Shelburne and Lily Psencik split the setting duties with 31 and 27 assists, respectively.
With the win, the Bulldogs need to defeat 24-3, No. 11 The Masters University to guarantee their spot in the National Quarterfinals. The game is slated for Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. If they advance, the Bulldogs will play in the quarterfinals on Dec. 6, opponent TBD.
