2022 NAIA AVCA All-Region Awards
SEWARD, Neb. – For their efforts in helping the 2022 Concordia University Volleyball team to the highest national ranking in program history, four Bulldogs were honored on Friday (Dec. 2) with West Central All-Region awards, as selected by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Angie Boldt was honored as the region’s Assistant Coach of the Year while Gabi Nordaker, Camryn Opfer and Bree Burtwistle (honorable mention) were named to the AVCA West Central Region squad. Concordia finished the season at 25-6 overall while reaching the national tournament final site for a fourth year in a row.
Angie Boldt has worked alongside her husband Ben Boldt while presiding over an unprecedented run of success for the program. Angie began her tenure with the Bulldogs prior to the start of the 2018 season and has aided in a combined record of 102-43 over five seasons. The highlights of ’22 included the program’s highest ever national ranking of No. 4, 13 wins over teams that qualified for the national tournament and an appearance in the GPAC tournament championship match. Originally from St. Paul, Neb., and an alum of the University of Nebraska, Angie’s coaching journey has included stops at the University of Alabama, the University of Iowa, the University of Arkansas, Nebraska Wesleyan University and Hendrix College (Ark.).
Opfer has completed four phenomenal seasons as a Bulldog. The Seward High School product has been named first team all-conference twice and second team twice during a career that ranks her among the best players in school history. In 2022, Opfer totaled 320 kills, 403 digs, 49 blocks and 19 aces in 31 matches. In 118 career matches, Opfer has racked up 1,268 kills, 1,340 digs, 175 blocks and 63 aces. On the program’s all-time lists, Opfer ranks No. 5 for career kills and career digs. Opfer’s career national tournament totals of 195 kills and 231 digs both stand out as school records on that stage.
The Millard West High School alum Nordaker has starred as one of the NAIA’s best middle hitters. She’s been chosen as a First Team All-GPAC honoree in back-to-back years. In 31 matches in 2022, Nordaker led the team in both kills (328) and blocks (114) while hitting .353. That hitting percentage ranks No. 8 nationally. In three seasons as a Bulldog, Nordaker has totaled 893 kills and 342 blocks in 85 matches (307 sets). Nordaker racked up 16 kills and hit .441 in the national tournament win over Hastings.
Burtwistle stepped into the role as the team’s primary setter in 2022 and thrived. The Stanton, Neb., native ranked No. 4 among all NAIA setters with an average of 11.21 assists per set. Burtwistle piled up 1,211 total assists while leading an attack that ranked second in the NAIA in hitting percentage (.255). Burtwistle was rewarded with Second Team All-GPAC accolades. She was twice named the NAIA National Setter of the Week in 2022.