Weekend Preview: Kodiaks look to make a strong statement in the second half

Competition in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference has resumed after the winter break with games taking place this weekend. The Kodiaks are well rested and ready to get back into action with both basketball and volleyball teams competing.

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks basketball teams will host the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens tomorrow with the women playing first at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 8 p.m. They’ll line up again on Saturday for afternoon games starting at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. 

The Kodiaks volleyball teams will start the new year off on the road with evening games tomorrow against the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens and afternoon games on Saturday.

Basketball:

WBB | Kodiaks (5-4) vs Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (7-2)

• Friday, Jan. 10 | 6 p.m. | Val Matteotti Gymnasium
• Saturday, Jan. 11 | 1 p.m. | Val Matteotti Gymnasium

Just before the holidays, the Kodiaks women’s basketball team travelled south to Arizona where they faced some tough competition including junior colleges and a Division III school. The Kodiaks will be looking to take what they learned and progress forward in their matchups against Red Deer this weekend.

Going into the second half of the season means some roster changes and chances for players to step up into new roles. Although the team is made up of a lot of first-year athletes, their impact has been undeniable. Halle Aleman (first year, Open Studies, Lethbridge) is leading the team in overall minutes played. Her solid shooting, including 78.3 per cent from the free-throw line, and her 14 steals highlight her all-around impact on both ends of the floor. Layla Vaz (first year, Open Studies, Raymond) is another young player for the Kodiaks that stands out as a strong presence at the post, leading the team in offensive rebounds with 18.

MBB | Kodiaks (5-4) vs Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (5-4)

• Friday, Jan. 10 | 8 p.m. | Val Matteotti Gymnasium
• Saturday, Jan. 11 | 3 p.m. | Val Matteotti Gymnasium

The Kodiaks men’s basketball team also travelled to Arizona to get some exhibition games in over the winter break. With a few extra games under their belt and some rest and recovery time, they are ready to start the second half of the season strong.

Going into this weekend, the Kodiaks are matched up evenly with the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and everyone on the bench will need to battle it out. Key play makers like Coleson Lake (fourth year, Business Administration, Eagle, Idaho) and Ryan Degner (fourth year, Open Studies, Lethbridge), who have a combined 49 assists, will need to control the tempo of the game and keep the Kodiaks aggressive. Treydon Barton (third year, General Arts and Science, Raymond) will also be relied upon to maintain the pace with his offensive pressure, as he leads the Kodiaks in points.

Volleyball games can be watched live on TELUS channel 1998 or ACACTV.

WVB | Kodiaks (2-7) at Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (7-2)

• Friday, Jan. 10 | 6 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre
• Saturday, Jan. 11 | 1 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Kodiaks women’s volleyball team is set to start the second half of the season by traveling to Red Deer. It will be a tough matchup as Red Deer has had a strong start to the season, only losing to top teams in the North. The Queens are currently ranked eighth in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

With a long winter break behind them, the Kodiaks will be looking to their older players Aideena Wickstrom (fifth year, Exercise Science, Coaldale) and Taryn Bach (fourth year, Open Studies, Lethbridge) to set the tone and expectations in the new year.

MVB | Kodiaks (2-7) at Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (7-2)

• Friday, Jan. 10 | 8 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre
• Saturday, Jan. 11 | 3 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Kodiaks men’s volleyball team will be looking to channel their restful time off over the winter break into fresh energy with a renewed focus. Both games this weekend will be a top 10 CCAA matchup with the Kodiaks sitting in the No. 10 spot in the nation and the Kings at No. 2.

The Kodiaks will be relying on veteran players to help navigate the team into top playoff positioning as they start the second half of the season. For the weekend ahead, the Kodiaks will need their middles Kohlbe Anderson (second year, Business Administration, Claymont, Del.) and Marshall Qually (second year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) to be efficient on their blocks to help slow down the Kings’ offence.