2023 CSC Academic All-District Volleyball Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second year in a row, the Concordia University Volleyball program has placed exactly four team members on the Academic All-District Team, as selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC). On Tuesday (Dec. 12), the organization announced the following Bulldogs as 2023 Academic All-District honorees: Bree Burtwistle, Ashley Keck, Camryn Opfer and Carly Rodaway. Repeat award winners include Burtwistle, Opfer and Rodaway.
The 2023 Academic All-District® 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 major awards in back-to-back days after having also been named the program’s first ever NAIA First Team All-American on Monday. 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 in numerous 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 has totaled 3,216 assists, 878 digs, 137 kills, 111 aces and 80 blocks. Burtwistle has studied Biology at Concordia.
This is just a start for Keck, who completed her sophomore volleyball season in 2023. The Kearney, Neb., native paced the team in kills (327) and was named Second Team All-GPAC and an AVCA honorable mention all-region selection this fall. Keck also contributed 242 digs and 28 blocks and hit .196 from the outside. She reached double figures in kills 20 times and produced a season high 20 kills in the GPAC tournament championship match. The 2022 GPAC Freshman of the Year, Keck has tallied 600 kills and 364 digs over her first two seasons as a Bulldog. She is studying Business Administration.
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 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.
A Lincoln, Neb., native, Rodaway has collected three All-GPAC awards over three seasons with the Bulldogs. She played in all 95 sets this past season and totaled 221 kills (2.33/set) and 58 blocks while hitting .272 from the right side. Her season high of 14 kills came in the four-set win at College of Saint Mary. Rodaway also posted six blocks in wins over nationally ranked opponents in Park University (Mo.) and Jamestown. In her Concordia career, Rodaway has tallied 684 kills and has hit .248 in 83 matches. She is studying K-12 PE Education.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Jan. 9, 2024.