Russell Hons

News & Views: A Look Back at UND and Concordia

By Matt Scheerer, FightingHawks.com

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Twelve days into fall camp, the University of North Dakota was able to square off against another foe on Saturday, hosting Concordia College in a six-frame battle at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The match marked the return of UND All-American Faith (Dooley) Radermacher, who enters her second season as the Cobbers head coach.

I was really happy with how things went today, we put some players in some different spots and and tried them out in in some areas that we might not have been able to see enough of in practice. We just put players in and they contributed right away.

Head Coach Jeremiah Tiffin on the match

The matched served as opportunity for the Fighting Hawks seven newcomers to play alongside North Dakota's 11 returning letterwinners. UND won all six sets of the match, playing to 25 in the first three sets and to 15 in the final three sets. The contest allowed both teams practice different situations.

I'm really proud of everyone that played today. All the new people did amazing. They've came out and played their game today. They've made practice way more competitive and they've pushed us way more than we were last year so it's been really good having all these new teammates.

Team Captain Lexi Ahrens on the newcomers

It's good to learn everybody's traits and what they're like as a new teammate, but I think you learn a lot by seeing things on the sidelines so it's good to be back with the things you see (when you're) out.

Team Captain Kelly Wahl on playing with the newcomers and returning from injury

It's nice having the new student-athletes that are younger, but having that veteran leadership (on the court with them) that can say, 'hey this is the standard that we want' and holding everybody to it, it, we've got good team culture because of it.

Tiffin on the mix of youth and experience on the roster

Following the exhibition with the Cobbers, Fighting Hawk student-athletes signed autographs for players and participated in a volleyball clinic, teaching children the fundamentals of volleyball. The Betty featured over 300 fans in attendance between, friends, family, children and UND fans.

In addition to the return of Radermacher to The Betty, newcomer Kortney Carney was able to faceoff against her old team and play against her cousin Brook, a junior on the Cobbers squad in 2021.

We played in high school together. Actually my freshman year I played with her older sister at Concordia. So it was interesting; big family reunion today. You know, as hard as I'm rooting for her, I'm also rooting for us at the same time. But it was good to see her and good to see where she's at, you know.

Setter Kortney Carney on playing against her cousin

North Dakota will open the 2021 regular season next weekend in Logan, Utah at the Utah State Invitational on Aug. 27 and 28, taking on the host Aggies, Seton Hall and former Big Sky Conference foe Weber State. The Fighting Hawks will host the 10th edition of the UND Classic on Sept. 10 and 11, welcoming Drake, Green Bay, and Montana.

Click here to view a full photo gallery of the match.

News & Views: A Look Back at UND and Concordia

UTAH STATE INVITATIONAL

Aug. 27-28 | Logan, Utah