Kodiaks seasons hit the homestretch
The Kodiaks basketball and volleyball teams are into the final month of their regular seasons as they prepare for action this week.
Feb. 5, 2020 – The Kodiaks basketball and volleyball teams are into the final month of their regular seasons as they prepare for action this week.
The Kodiaks men’s volleyball and basketball teams are both nationally ranked and looking to keep momentum rolling as they approach playoffs. The women’s basketball team plays an important game as it tries to firm up a playoff position. And the women’s volleyball team looks for a confidence-boosting effort in a home-and-home series with an archrival.
The basketball teams have five conference games remaining ahead of the ACAC championships, which begin March 5. The volleyball teams have six games left, as the men gear up to host the Murray Chevrolet Cadillac 2020 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship from Feb. 27 to 29.
VOLLEYBALL
MEN’S
Kodiaks (15-3) vs Rattlers (4-14) – 8 p.m. Friday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium
8 p.m. Saturday at Medicine Hat College
The Kodiaks men’s volleyball team is ranked second in the national CCAA rankings and have an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the ACAC south division this weekend as they play a home-and-home series against Medicine Hat College. The Kodiaks are two points behind SAIT for first in the division, but with the Trojans off this weekend, Lethbridge has a chance to leapfrog them.
The Kodiaks enter the weekend on a five game win streak and face a Medicine Hat team that has lost four in a row. The Kodiaks swept a November series against the Rattlers by scores of 3-1 and 3-0.
Carter Hansen (fifth year, General Studies, Magrath) continues to lead the Kodiaks attack, averaging 3.63 kills per set, to sit fourth in the conference. Zach Wikenheiser (fourth year, General Studies, Lethbridge) is fourth in the conference in assists, averaging 8.4 per set.
WOMEN’S
Kodiaks (4-14) vs Rattlers (8-10) – 6 p.m. Friday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium
6 p.m. Saturday at Medicine Hat College
The Kodiaks women’s team renews its rivalry with the Rattlers. While the Kodiaks have struggled this season, the Rattlers have also lost four straight matches, so both teams see an opportunity to turn things around this weekend. Medicine Hat won a pair of November meetings against the Kodiaks by scores of 3-0 and 3-1.
Mack Lewicki (third year, General Studies, Taber) is coming off a season-high 16 kills in Friday’s match against Ambrose University. She has vaulted up to 12thin the ACAC in kills per set, averaging 2.48. Jamie Brown (third year, Natural Resource Compliance, Fort Macleod) has thrived after moving to the outside, averaging more than 2.7 kills per set over her last five matches.
BASKETBALL
MEN’S
Kodiaks (15-1) vs Lightning (7-9) – 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s
The Kodiaks hopes for a perfect season came to an end last week against SAIT, as the Trojans prevailed 90-69. The loss dropped the Kodiaks from first in the CCAA national rankings all the way down to fifth. That should leave the Kodiaks with no shortage of motivation as they face the St. Mary’s University Lightning on Thursday.
The Kodiaks have beat the Lightning twice already this season, 88-84 in October and 94-89 in November. While the Kodiaks have already clinched a playoff berth, the Lightning are fighting to try to make it to the post-season, sitting two points back of the final spot heading into the weekend.
The Kodiaks have three of the top 11 scorers in the ACAC and both Brock Dewsbery (first year, General Studies, Raymond) and Orin Porter Jr. (fourth year, Computer Information Technology, Incline Village, Nev.) have scored in double digits in every game this season. The Kodiaks are the highest scoring team in the ACAC.
WOMEN’S
Kodiaks (9-7) vs Lightning (11-5) – 6 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s
The Kodiaks women’s basketball team is coming off a win over SAIT and control their own playoff destiny, but they face a challenge this week as St. Mary’s has won seven straight games. The Kodiaks sit in the final playoff spot in the ACAC south division, four points ahead of both Briercrest and Red Deer College, although both of those teams hold one game in hand.
The Lightning and Kodiaks have split two games this season, as Lethbridge won 83-73 in October, before St. Mary’s rebounded for a 79-74 victory in November.
Kirsten Barwegan (third year, Justice Studies, Lethbridge) has flourished offensively in the second semester, averaging more than 14 points per game in her last five outings. Matlin McMurray (third year, General Studies, Cardston) has also seen a spike in production, averaging more than 13 points per game over her last six games.
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.