SEWARD, Neb. – The Omaha World-Herald lauded Concordia University Volleyball All-American setter Bree Burtwistle with a major award on Thursday (Dec. 28). Nebraska’s largest newspaper outlet named Burtwistle the Honorary Captain of its 2023 NAIA/NCAA D-III All-Midlands Team. Burtwistle was joined on the primary eight-person All-Midlands squad by fellow All-American teammates Gabi Nordaker and Camryn Opfer. The accomplished Nordaker and Opfer have both garnered some form of All-Midlands recognition each year of their college careers.
Four Bulldogs were chosen to the 2023 honorable mention All-Midlands list: Becca Gebhardt, Ashley Keck, Cassidy Knust and Carly Rodaway. The Omaha World-Herald annually releases its All-Midlands teams to recognize the top players from small colleges across the state of Nebraska. The full 2023 All-Midlands squad can be found below.
2023 Concordia All-Midlands Honorees
Bree Burtwistle (Honorary Captain)
2023 – 29 matches (98 sets), 1,149 assists (11.72/set), 271 digs, 66 kills, 37 blocks, 34 aces; NAIA First Team All-American; First Team All-GPAC.
Gabi Nordaker
2023 – 29 matches (97 sets), 267 kills (2.75/set), 116 blocks (1.20/set), .328 hitting percentage; NAIA Third Team All-American; First Team All-GPAC.
Camryn Opfer
2023 – 27 matches (90 sets), 293 kills (3.26/set), 330 digs (3.67/set), 38 blocks, 21 aces, .227 hitting percentage; NAIA Second Team All-American; First Team All-GPAC.
Becca Gebhardt (HM)
2023 – 29 matches (98 sets), 416 digs (4.24/set), 340 serve receptions, 17 aces; Honorable Mention All-GPAC.
Ashley Keck (HM)
2023 – 28 matches (94 sets), 327 kills (3.48/set), 242 digs, 28 blocks, .196 hitting percentage; Second Team All-GPAC.
Cassidy Knust (HM)
2023 – 29 matches (95 sets), 313 serve receptions, 199 digs (2.09/set), 18 aces; Honorable Mention All-GPAC.
Carly Rodaway (HM)
2023 – 29 matches (95 sets), 221 kills (2.33/set), 84 digs, 58 blocks, .272 hitting percentage; Second Team All-GPAC.
2023 NAIA/NCAA D-III All-Midlands Team (Omaha World-Herald)
OH — Allie Kerns, Bellevue
OH — Camryn Opfer, Concordia
OH — Addie Thomas, Nebraska Wesleyan
MB — Gabi Nordaker, Concordia
MB — Abbey Ringler, Midland
MB — Kamryn Willman, College of St. Mary
*S — Bree Burtwistle, Concordia
L/DS — Taylan Keefer, Bellevue
*Honorary Captain
Honorable mention
Bellevue: Eve Fountain, Kealy Kiviniemi, Sidney Sledge. Concordia: Becca Gebhart, Ashley Keck, Cassidy Knust, Carly Rodaway. Doane: Sophia McKinney, Taylor Sluka. Hastings: Makenna Asher, Ilse Benne, Miriam Miller, Majesta Valasek. Midland: Jacki Apel, Lauryn Samuelson, Lauren Williams. Nebraska Wesleyan: Nyah Chambers, Molly Ramirez, Jaclyn Riedl, Elecea Saathoff. Peru State: Allie Schneider, Erison Vonderschmidt. College of St. Mary: Lauren Anderson, Rachel Cushing, Azaria Green, Lexie Langley, Grace Werner. York: Danielle Armendariz.