2021 NAIA AVCA All-Region Awards
SEWARD, Neb. – Key figures in another run to the NAIA national quarterfinals, Camryn Opfer and Gabi Nordaker have earned recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The coaches’ organization named Opfer and Nordaker to its 2021 NAIA All-West Central Region Team, as announced on Friday (Dec. 3). Opfer was placed on the 14-member All-Region team while Nordaker was chosen as an honorable mention recipient.
The accolades have been plentiful for Opfer, who was tabbed First Team All-GPAC this season after garnering second team all-conference status in both 2019 and 2020. The Seward High School product enjoyed her finest season yet while posting career highs in kills (394) and digs (389) in 2021. She also hit .221 from the outside and added 45 blocks. Named to the 2020 National Championship All-Tournament Team, Opfer has pushed her career kill total to 948, a figure that ranks 10th on the program’s all-time list. In 2019, the AVCA named Opfer the West Central Region Freshman of the Year. Opfer shined in the five-set national tournament win over No. 2 Viterbo University (Wis.) in tallying 21 kills and 16 digs.
Nordaker joined Opfer with First Team All-GPAC recognition this fall. The Omaha native and Millard West High School alum finished the 2021 campaign with 347 kills and led the team with 130 blocks (1.08/set) and with a .354 hitting percentage. Nordaker has been garnered All-Region honorable mention accolades for the second year in a row. She was also chosen as Second Team All-GPAC in 2020. Nordaker elevated her game at the national tournament, piling up 13 blocks in the victory over Viterbo. Her season high for kills was 22 in a five-set match versus College of Saint Mary.
The Bulldogs concluded the season with a 19-12 overall record after a five-set defeat at the hands of No. 7 Marian University (Ind.) in the NAIA national quarterfinals on Thursday. Concordia has reached at least the round of 16 in each of the past three seasons.