SEWARD, Neb. – Due to their efforts in wins over Mount Marty and No. 14 Dordt, Concordia University Volleyball standouts Bree Burtwistle and Gabi Nordaker have been honored with GPAC weekly awards. As announced by the on Tuesday (Sept. 27), Burtwistle has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Setter of the Week while Nordaker has been recognized as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Attacker of the Week. Burtwistle, named NAIA National Setter of the Week on Sept. 20, has earned the GPAC setter award for the second week in a row.
Facilitator of one of the nation’s most potent attacks, Burtwistle piled up 85 assists (14.17/set) last week as the Bulldogs defeated both Mount Marty and Dordt in three sets. The Stanton, Neb., native also collected a combined 23 digs and aided Concordia in hitting .314 at Mount Marty and .345 at Dordt. Nationally, Burtwistle ranks third in assists per set (11.37) and 15th in total assists (591) this season. As a team, Concordia boasts the NAIA’s second most efficient attack in terms of hitting percentage (.282).
Nordaker has been the beneficiary of Burtwistle’s setting. A Millard West High School product, Nordaker was virtually unstoppable last week in producing 24 kills on 36 swings with just a single error. She hit .632 at Mount Marty and then .647 at Dordt. In addition, Nordaker totaled six blocks as part of a dominant week. On the season, Nordaker is hitting .407, a percentage that ranks No. 2 among all NAIA players. She leads the team in both kills (174) and blocks (47) this season. Nordaker has run her career totals to 739 kills and 275 blocks in 69 matches.
Up next, the eighth-ranked Bulldogs (14-1, 5-1 GPAC) will host Briar Cliff on Friday and Morningside on Saturday. The Saturday match will be senior day for Concordia.