2023 CSC Academic All-America Volleyball Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – Recognized as Academic All-District award winners back in December, fifth-year Bulldogs Bree Burtwistle and Camryn Opfer have been honored with Academic All-America status. As announced by College Sports Communicators (CSC) on Tuesday (Jan. 9), Burtwistle and Opfer were named to the 2023 NAIA Academic All-America Volleyball Second Team. The 2023 NAIA Academic All-America volleyball list is made up of seven first teamers and seven second teamers and was chosen by members of CSC.
The 2023 Academic All-America® Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in order to be nominated for this award. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender.
Burtwistle has earned a bevy of major awards following the 2023 season. She was named the program’s first ever NAIA First Team All-American in December. The native of Stanton, Neb., 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 additional postseason awards having also been tabbed the GPAC Setter of the Year, a First Team All-GPAC honoree, AVCA West Central All-Region and an NAIA Scholar-Athlete. 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 totaled 3,216 assists, 878 digs, 137 kills, 111 aces and 80 blocks. Burtwistle has studied Biology at Concordia.
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 NAIA All-American having been named honorable mention in 2021 and to the second team in 2022 and 2023. 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. Opfer earned her degree in Accounting from Concordia.
The Concordia Volleyball program has been rewarded with eight Academic All-District selections over the past two years. However, Burtwistle and Opfer are the first Bulldogs from the program to ever earn Academic All-America distinction from CSC.