Omaha World-Herald news article
SEWARD, Neb. – Six student-athletes from the national qualifying Concordia University volleyball squad have been named to the 2019 NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska Volleyball Team, as chosen by the Omaha World-Herald. The All-Nebraska selections were announced by the Omaha news outlet on Dec. 21. The exclusive group of honorees includes an eight-member team in addition to honorable mention choices.
Senior Emmie Noyd and junior Tara Callahan were placed on the eight-member team while the other four Bulldog award winners were named honorable mention. That group included junior Marissa Hoerman, freshman Camryn Opfer, junior Kara Stark and freshman Kalee Wiltfong.
Callahan garnered first team All-GPAC, AVCA All-Region and NAIA honorable mention All-America selection in 2019. The native of Brady, Neb., has established herself as one of the nation’s top setters. This fall she has collected five GPAC Setter of the Week awards and was named the NAIA National Setter of the Week on Sept. 10. Callahan ranked 10th nationally with an average of 10.74 assists per set (1,299 total assists). In her career, Callahan has accumulated 2,754 assists, 468 digs, 251 kills and 175 blocks.
Noyd has often been the beneficiary of Callahan’s passing. Also a two-time second team All-GPAC and one-time first team All-GPAC choice, Noyd enjoyed the best season of her career. Among all NAIA players, the star middle blocker ranked 21st in hitting percentage (.327) and 31st in blocks per set (1.09). Noyd’s 346 kills are the most for a squad ranked 15th nationally in hitting percentage (.232). Noyd also earned one GPAC Attacker of the Week honor in 2019. Her career totals stood at 973 kills and 376 blocks to go along with a .308 hitting percentage. Noyd went on to earn All-Region and NAIA Third Team All-America honors.
Opfer’s addition proved critical to this past season’s success. The Seward High School product is the program’s first-ever GPAC Freshman of the Year and AVCA West Central Region Freshman of the Year. In her first season with the Bulldogs, Opfer has notched 316 kills (2.63/set), 312 digs (2.60/set) and 48 blocks while hitting .212 from the outside. She posted 10 or more kills 15 times this season with a high of 19 coming in the win at Briar Cliff.
Hoerman is the leader of a back row that helped limit opponents to a .157 hitting percentage on the season. The native of Evergreen, Colo., paced the team with a career high 458 digs (3.79/set) while playing in all 121 sets this season. She has also passed serve receive at a 95.8 percent rate and added 37 aces. She posted a season high of 25 digs on two occasions. In her career, Hoerman has totaled 1,185 serve receptions, 1,039 digs and 55 aces.
Stark provided another potent attacking option on the outside. She ranked third on the team with 293 kills (2.71/set). The native of Frisco, Texas, collected 10 or more kills in 20 matches this season with a high of 17 versus Midland on Sept. 14. Stark has piled up 429 kills and 61 blocks in 166 career sets played.
Wiltfong became a big factor in the middle during her rookie season. The native of Doniphan, Neb., tallied 275 kills (2.27/set) and 95 blocks (0.79/set) in 2019. Wiltfong put up a career high 19 kills in a win over Dakota Wesleyan on Nov. 3. Wiltfong also collected 35 kills during Concordia’s stay at the national tournament.
NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska Volleyball Team
H: Amber Anderson, Sr., St. Mary
H: Sierra Athen, So., Bellevue
H: Allison Kuenle, Sr., Doane
H: Emmie Noyd, Sr., Concordia
S: Tara Callahan, Jr., Concordia
* S: Olivia Galas, So., Bellevue
L: Taliyah Flores, So., Midland
DS: Payton Robley, Sr., St. Mary
Honorable mention: Bellevue: Andrea Carson, Coree Lipovsky. Concordia: Marissa Hoerman, Camryn Opfer, Kara Stark, Kalee Wiltfong. Doane: Alexis Dale, Jaime Renshaw, Madison VanHousen. Hastings: Danielle Bruha, Emily Lenners, Lucy Skoch. Midland: Brooke Fredrickson, Maggie Hiatt, Hope Leimbach. Nebraska Wesleyan: Hannah Bellinghausen, Whitney Jensen, Cora Svoboda. Peru State: Claire Cudney, Tyra Mollhoff, Darlene Quinonez Holguin. St. Mary: Elizabeth Dlouhy. York: Bailey Johnson.
*Honorary Captain