Kodiaks home for the first time in 2020

Jan. 15, 2020 – It’s time for some home cooking, as the Lethbridge College Kodiaks volleyball and basketball teams play their first home games of 2020 this weekend.

The volleyball teams host Olds College on Friday and Saturday, while the basketball teams play a home-and-home series with Ambrose University that begins Friday in Calgary before returning to the Val Matteotti Gymnasium on Saturday. 

MEN’S 

Kodiaks (11-3) vs Broncos (4-10) – 8 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

The Kodiaks men’s volleyball team has jumped all the way up to fourth in the CCAA national rankings this week, following a split with fellow national contender Red Deer College last weekend. The Kodiaks faced a bit of adversity to open the new semester with a straight-sets loss to the Kings last Friday, but rebounded to sweep the Kings on Saturday. The Kodiaks sit in second place in the ACAC south division with an 11-3 record, but are just two points back of first place SAIT and also have two games in hand.

Carter Hansen (fifth year, General Studies, Magrath) continues to be a standout in his final season as a Kodiak. He is averaging 3.72 kills per set to sit third in the ACAC in that category and is also third in total attacks. Michael Svab (third year, Geomatics Engineering Technology, Pincher Creek) is fourth in the ACAC with 0.71 blocks per set, while Zach Wikenheiser (fourth year, General Studies, Lethbridge) is fifth in assists, averaging 8.43 per set. 

The Broncos are well back in the ACAC playoff picture with a 4-10 record. The Kodiaks won both meetings with Olds College in the first semester, 3-1 and 3-0. The Kodiaks will host the Murray Chev Olds ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championships from Feb. 26 to 29.

WOMEN’S

Kodiaks (2-12) vs Broncos (2-12) – 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

It has been a tough season for the Kodiaks women’s team, but they have a chance to build confidence this weekend as they host Olds College in a battle of 2-12 teams. During the first semester, the teams split a pair of matches as Olds won 3-1 on their home court on Friday, before the Kodiaks rebounded with a 3-0 win on Saturday.

Mack Lewicki (third year, General Studies, Taber) is in the top 20 in the ACAC in both kills and digs, while Jamie Brown (third year, Natural Resource Compliance, Fort Macleod) is 14^th in assists per set and was named player of the game in both of the Kodiaks matches against Red Deer College last weekend. 

BASKETBALL

MEN’S 

Kodiaks (11-0) vs Lions (5-4) – 8 p.m. Friday at Ambrose University, 8 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

The Kodiaks men’s basketball team has jumped up to be ranked first in Canada, thanks to a perfect 11-0 record bolstered by an 86-61 win over Medicine Hat College last week. The Kodiaks play two against the Ambrose Lions this week and will look to repeat their first-half success, when they beat Ambrose 96-74.

Brock Dewsbery’s (first year, General Studies, Raymond) 22.5 points per game place him fourth in the ACAC, while Orin Porter Jr. (fourth year, Computer Information Technology, Incline Village, Nev.) is eighth, averaging 18.8 points per game. The Kodiaks lead the ACAC in offense, averaging more than six points more per game than any other team, and are also the best defensive team in the south division. 

WOMEN’S 

Kodiaks (6-5) vs Lions (1-8) – 6 p.m. Friday at Ambrose University, 6 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

The Kodiaks women’s team has a golden opportunity to pick up points that will help them in an ultra-tight ACAC south division playoff race as they face the 1-8 Ambrose Lions. The Kodiaks are 6-5 and sit in a three-way tie for second place in the ACAC south division, alongside Briercrest College and St. Mary’s University. Likely only two of the three teams will make the playoffs.

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