2023 NAIA Volleyball All-Americans
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second year in a row, the Concordia University Volleyball team has landed three players on the list of NAIA All-Americans. The 2023 All-America honor roll features Bulldog veterans in Bree Burtwistle (first team), Camryn Opfer (second team) and Gabi Nordaker (third team). Burtwistle has made history as the first player in program history to be named to the All-America first team. The trio of Burtwistle, Opfer and Nordaker has combined for seven career All-America awards. The three All-America awards for Concordia in 2023 tied Viterbo University (Wis.) for the most in the NAIA.
A native of Stanton, Neb., Burtwistle served as the quarterback of a ’23 squad that posted NAIA national rankings of first in kills per set (14.59) and sixth in hitting percentage (.257). Burtwistle completed the season ranked first in the GPAC and third nationally with an average of 11.72 assists per set. Burtwistle has hauled in postseason awards having also been named the GPAC Setter of the Year, a First Team All-GPAC honoree, to AVCA West Central All-Region team and to the NAIA Scholar-Athlete list. Burtwistle moved up to the NAIA’s first team in 2023 after receiving honorable mention All-America status in 2022. In 113 career matches, Burtwistle has totaled 3,216 assists, 878 digs, 137 kills, 111 aces and 80 blocks.
The Millard West High School product Nordaker was chosen as an NAIA Second Team All-American in 2022. She’s also a three-time First Team All-GPAC selection as a star middle blocker. This past 2023 campaign, Nordaker recorded 267 kills and 116 blocks while hitting .328. She became the 10th player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills and was an AVCA West Central All-Region choice. Over 114 career matches, Nordaker has tallied 1,160 kills and 458 blocks. She will have the opportunity to add to those totals in 2024 as she uses her ‘COVID year’ of eligibility.
Opfer’s achievements put her in the discussion with the greatest players to ever wear Concordia colors. The Seward High School product is now a three-time All-American having also been named honorable mention in 2021 and to the second team in 2022. The ’23 season saw Opfer notch 293 kills (3.26/set), 330 digs (3.67/set), 38 blocks and 21 aces. The five-time All-GPAC award winner (three first team mentions) finished her collegiate career ranked third in program history for career kills and digs. Opfer played in 145 matches as a Bulldog and racked up 1,561 kills, 1,671 digs, 213 blocks and 84 aces. She led the program to the final site of the NAIA national tournament in each of her five seasons.
Concordia Volleyball All-Americans
Bree Burtwistle – 2022-HM; 2023-1st
Tara Callahan – 2019-HM; 2020-HM
Becky Ernstmeyer – 1995-HM; 1996-HM
Jocelyn Garcia – 2015-HM
Alayna Kavanaugh – 2015-HM
Rachel Kirchner – 1999-HM; 2000-HM; 2001-3rd
Sandy Kirchner – 2002-HM
Gabi Nordaker – 2022-2nd; 2023-3rd
Emmie Noyd – 2019-3rd
Camryn Opfer – 2021-HM; 2022-2nd; 2023-2nd
Stacy Stuckenschmidt – 1995-HM
Claire White – 2014-HM