Game Time...No.14 Northwestern heads to Seward, Neb.  this weekend to play Concordia for its first conference road match-up. First serve at Walz Arena is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, Sept. 16. Northwestern is 1-0 in conference play and owns a 14-1 overall record heading into Saturday. Concordia had dropped two road matches against ranked teams to open league play for an 0-2 record, 5-7 overall.

Follow the match live via the Concordia webcast at this link: Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern is 35-8 all-time against Concordia, dating back to the 1991 season. The Red Raiders are 8-2 over the last 10 match-ups against CNC, including a 3-0 win last year at the Bultman Center (25-18, 25-15, 25-19). 

Scouting Reports...

    Concordia Bulldogs: 0-2 (GPAC), 5-7 overall   Head Coach: Scott Mattera-6th year

Concordia is 0-2 in league play, losing to ranked teams (#9 Midland and #16 Doane) on the road to start the conference season. They are 5-7 overall, holding wins over Bethany (Kan.), Avila (Mo.), Chadron State (Neb.), York and Missouri Southern State.

Mattera is in his sixth season as the head of the Bulldogs volleyball program, owning a 103-94 overall record heading into this season. Mattera guided Concordia to its first ever national touranment appearance in 2015, finishing with a 26-9 overall record, the fifth most wins in program history. Last year, Concordia finished seventh in the GPAC at 6-10, 15-19 overall, losing to Midland in the GPAC Quarterfinals. Six starters return from last year's squad. 

Concordia is hitting .178, averaging 11.6 kills and over two blocks per set this season. They have 70 ace serves compared to 47 by their opponents. Alex La Plant is the team's top hitter, putting down 2.91 kills per set while hitting .198 on the outside. Kelsey Baarck (2.4) and Emmie Noyd (2.2) are the other top hitters. Tara Callahan takes over as setter after four-year starter, Alayna Cavanaugh, graduated last spring. Callahan puts up 9.2 assists per set and Jocelyn Garcia leads the backrow with 4.4 digs per set. 

    No.14 Northwestern College: 1-0 (GPAC), 14-1 overall   Head Coach: Kyle Van Den Bosch (13th year)