Home court advantage for Kodiaks as playoff push continues

Feb. 12, 2020 – There is plenty of home cooking on tap for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks this weekend, as the basketball and volleyball teams take part in the second-last week of ACAC regular season play. 

The basketball teams are on their home court for the final time this season, hosting Olds on Friday and Saturday. The volleyball teams play home-and-home against SAIT beginning Friday in Calgary before returning to the Val Matteotti Gymnasium on Saturday. All four teams will close out the regular season against Briercrest College next weekend. 

The men’s volleyball team is building towards hosting the Murray Chevrolet Cadillac 2020 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship from Feb. 27 to 29. The men’s basketball team has already clinched a spot in the ACAC championships from March 4 to 7 in Camrose. The women’s basketball team is trying to clinch a playoff berth, while the women’s volleyball team has been eliminated from playoff contention. 

BASKETBALL

MEN’S

Kodiaks (16-1) vs Broncos (1-15) – 8 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

This weekend is the final chance for home fans to see one of the country’s top teams as the Kodiaks men’s basketball team hosts Olds College. The Kodiaks are 16-1 this season, sitting in top spot in the ACAC south division and ranked fifth in the CCAA national rankings. 

Following the first loss of the season against SAIT two weeks ago, the Kodiaks rebounded with a lop-sided 95-77 win over St. Mary’s last week. The Kodiaks face the last place Olds College Broncos for two games this weekend. Lethbridge College beat Olds by 35 points during a first semester meeting. 

Brock Dewsbery (first year, Raymond, General Studies) scored 22 points against St. Mary’s last week to continue his impressive rookie season. Dewsbery is fifth in ACAC scoring, averaging 21.6 points per game. Orin Porter Jr. (fourth year, Computer Information Technology, Incline Village, Nev.) and Chase Bohne (first year, Business Administration, Raymond) are 10^th and 13^th in conference scoring, respectively. Porter is averaging 18.2 points per game, while Bohne is averaging 17.5. 

WOMEN’S

Kodiaks (9-8) vs Broncos (15-1) – 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

The Kodiaks women’s basketball team currently holds the fourth and final playoff spot in the ACAC south division with a 9-8 record and 18 points. But it will be a battle right to the end of the season as Red Deer College and Briercrest College are hot on their heels, two and four points back, respectively.

For a Kodiaks team needing wins, the task won’t be easy as they take on the defending national champions from Olds College. The Broncos haven’t slowed down this season as they have a 15-1 record and sit first in the CCAA national rankings. Olds beat Lethbridge 109-58 in the first semester.

Millay Johnson (second year, General Studies, Barnwell) has added an immediate punch since joining the Kodiaks at midseason. She is averaging nearly 12 points per game and earned her first double-double last week against St. Mary’s as she had 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

VOLLEYBALL

MEN’S

Kodiaks (17-3) vs Trojans (16-6) – 8 p.m. Friday at SAIT
                                                           8 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium 

The Kodiaks men’s volleyball team sits first in the ACAC south division and already have a spot clinched as the hosts of the Murray Chevrolet Cadillac 2020 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship, however there is still a lot on the line for the Kodiaks in an ultra-competitive south division. While the Kodiaks are in first with a 17-3 record, both Red Deer College and SAIT are just two points back. The final standings are important as they will determine seeding for the championship tournament.

This weekend is a marquee matchup as the Kodiaks are second in the CCAA national rankings, while the Trojans are 14^th. The Kodiaks split a first semester series with the Trojans, as SAIT won the first meeting 3-1 before the Kodiaks responded with a 3-0 victory. 

ACAC all-time kills leader Carter Hansen (fifth year, General Studies, Magrath) continues to find new ways to impress. With a combined 41 kills in a sweep against Medicine Hat College last weekend, Hansen is now third in the ACAC in kills per set, averaging 3.79. Michael Svab (third year, Geomatics Engineering Technology, Pincher Creek) is third in the ACAC in blocks, while Zach Wikenheiser (fourth year, General Studies, Lethbridge) is fourth in assists.

WOMEN’S

Kodiaks (6-14) vs Trojans (6-16) – 6 p.m. Friday at SAIT
                                                           6 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium 

While their playoff hopes have been dashed, the Kodiaks women’s volleyball team has shown plenty of spirit in recent weeks, winning four of their last six games, including back-to-back five-set wins over playoff-bound Medicine Hat College last weekend. 

This weekend will be another good measuring stick for the Kodiaks, as they play SAIT in a home-and-home series. Both teams have six wins on the season and they split a pair of matches in the first semester. 

Jamie Brown (third year, Natural Resource Compliance, Fort Macleod) is averaging 3.4 kills per set over her last six games since a move from setter to the outside, an average that would place her among the league leaders if maintained over a full season.

Admission for home Kodiaks games is free to students with Lethbridge College ID cards; $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, youth and alumni; and $4 for college employees and students with University of Lethbridge ID cards.  

All Kodiaks home and away games can be viewed on ACAC-TV and results will be available on the ACAC website.