Team chemistry sets up Bulldog volleyball team for championship goals
Senior volleyball athlete Adeline Kirkegaard.
By Kai Olbrich and Aaron Spivey
Photo credit: Concordia Athletics
A new season is ready to serve up for Concordia volleyball, and the Bulldogs are not shy about setting their expectations high.
Fresh off a record-breaking 2024 season that saw the team go 27-4 overall and 15-1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, the Bulldogs aren’t just counting on talent. They are relying on team chemistry, shared values and an energy they believe can carry them to both a GPAC title and a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national run.
Senior setter Addie Kirkegaard highlighted the team’s cohesiveness and energy.
“We want to win a GPAC Championship and a national championship. We have been working on team chemistry, and I think the team’s chemistry is really good right now,” Kirkegaard said. “I feel like everyone is connecting well, and our energy is starting off really good for the start of the season.”
Senior volleyball athlete Ashley Keck. Photo: Concordia Athletics.
Senior outside hitter Ashley Keck echoed the emphasis on team chemistry, while diving deeper into the values fueling the team.
“We live these goals out starting with our everyday preparation, through representing our core values: love, trust, hard work and sacrifice,” Keck said. “Every preseason we focus on building connections and enhancing our relationships with one another. Our team is truly a family, so during preseason introducing the incoming freshmen to our culture is where we are able to focus a lot of attention.”
Keck said the team has a lot of energy and excitement but also is process-focused.
“We have so many different personalities on the team that express different types of energy. That’s the cool thing about having a team of 31 girls!” Keck said. “Feeding off of one another can help us distribute our different personalities to be most successful.”
The Bulldogs face a challenging GPAC schedule, so they will lean on that unity and energy to fuel their championship ambitions.
