Volleyball takes first conference loss in five-set match against Northwestern

Junior outside hitter Ashley Keck (6) and sophomore middle Ava Green (17) make a team effort to block a shot from the Northwestern side.

Photo credit: Josiah Seabaugh

By Isaac Dawson

The homecoming game between the top-ranked teams in the nation was one of the most exciting matchups a Bulldogs fan could hope for, making it all the way to the tiebreaking fifth set to get edged out of a perfect Great Plains Athletic Conference record by No. 1 Northwestern to end it at 15-12.

After a tough first set, Concordia nearly turned the game completely around for a reverse sweep, but got the tables turned once more in the last two sets. With the team’s first conference loss, their record now stands at 12-2, and 5-1 in the GPAC – still standing strong as the second ranked team in the conference.

“Our match last year had similar vibes to it actually,” Boldt said on Concordia’s history against Northwestern. “With this one, I think our matchup with Northwestern was better in terms of the block we can do versus their big attackers, so I definitely think there’s room to grow and improve on what we showed today.”

Of the last five games against Northwestern, four went into the fifth set to duke it out.

The Raiders proved their place as rank one in the opening set, putting up a nigh impenetrable defense and later ending the match at a block advantage of 11-7. It was all the Bulldogs could do to receive the wicked serving and kill attempts and keep it to 25-17.

After the first, Concordia got shocked into showing exactly why they are Northwestern’s toughest GPAC competition, helped along the way by an inspiring word from coach Ben Boldt.

“Our coach’s attitude towards us really pushed us,” said junior Addie Kirkegaard, “he really has a drive for us, that he wants us to do well. He just came in the huddle and said, ‘Play your game, you know what you’re doing.’”

Kirkegaard was one of four to show off the Bulldogs’ well rounded offense this Saturday, taking 12 kills alongside junior Ashley Keck, senior Gabi Nordaker, and junior Kya Scott.

Concordia came around in the second and third sets winning both 25-16 to give them the set advantage. They hit .235 in the second set and then an impressive .517 in the third.

Northwestern came back out in the fourth set to tie up the game 25-15. Concordia went down early and was unable to mount a comeback. The Bulldogs hit .081, which was a little higher than .079 in the first set.

The fifth set was a close game of catch-up for Concordia. They kept the margins close against Northwestern but fell in the end to lose the tiebreaker.

Junior setters Lily Psencik and Savannah Shelbourne pulled their weight and then some, Psencik putting up 27 assists and 12 digs, Shelbourne close behind 25 assists and eight digs. Senior libero Becca Gebhardt was the backbone of the back row with 13 digs. Kirkegaard and Nordaker also had a large presence in the front line defense, taking five blocks each.

The Bulldogs face off next against the Waldorf University Warriors at Waldorf in Forest City, Iowa next Friday, October 4 at 7:30 pm. The Warriors stand at 8-7 overall and 2-4 in the GPAC. This game is quickly followed by another on October 5 against the Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers in South Dakota, with 8-8 overall and 3-2 in the GPAC.

Contributions made by Maddy Peters, sports editor