Waldorf Volleyball Battles Tough Opponents in Back-to-Back Road Losses
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Waldorf (9-8, 1-8) | 25 | 21 | 17 | 25 | 7 | 2 |
|
Midland (13-6, 8-1) | 23 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 3 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Waldorf (9-9, 1-9) | 23 | 8 | 17 | 0 |
|
Concordia (NE) (16-2, 9-1) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
FREMONT, Neb. - The Waldorf University Warriors faced a pair of tough conference matches on the road in Nebraska, falling in a hard-fought five-set thriller to Midland University on October 10, followed by a 0-3 loss to Concordia University the next day.
In a dramatic showdown at the Wikert Event Center, Waldorf pushed Midland to the brink in a tight match that ended 2-3 in favor of the hosts. The Warriors started strong, edging out Midland 25-23 in the first set. However, Midland bounced back to take the second and third sets 25-21 and 25-17. Refusing to go quietly, Waldorf rallied to win the fourth set 25-20, forcing a decisive fifth. Despite their efforts, the Warriors couldn't overcome Midland's early momentum in the final frame, falling 7-15.
Key performers included Anna Longhenry and Kaylin Koch, each tallying 10 kills, while Jalyn Hovenga chipped in with 7. Defensively, Peyton Klooster led the block game with 6, followed by Longhenry with 4. Libero McKenna Marlow anchored the back row with 23 digs, while Ashley Kurschner and Rina Maiava added 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Setter Reinya Balderson stood out with 25 assists and 4 service aces, aided by McKenna Metzger's 13 assists.
Less than 24 hours later, the Warriors traveled to Seward to take on the Concordia Bulldogs at Friedrich Arena. Despite a competitive opening set, Waldorf fell in straight sets, 23-25, 8-25, 17-25.
Anna Longhenry once again led the offense with 6 kills and an impressive .455 hitting percentage, while Sydney Kidd added 5 kills, hitting .333. Klooster and Koch contributed defensively with 2 blocks apiece, and Marlow added another solid performance in the back row with 11 digs. Balderson provided 13 assists, and both Klooster and Maiava notched service aces.
Following the weekend, Waldorf's season record sits at 9-9. While the results didn't fall in their favor, the Warriors displayed grit and growth against two strong conference opponents. With continued development and standout individual performances, the team remains determined as they move deeper into GPAC play. The Warriors are set to return home on Saturday, October 18, to compete against the College of Saint Mary and celebrate Senior Night. JV is set to begin at 1:30 p.m., and Varsity is scheduled to follow afterwards, at approximately 3:00 p.m., with Senior Night celebrations concluding the evening.