Weekend Recap: Kodiaks have reasons to celebrate

The weekend was action packed with graduating volleyball seniors’ night at home, futsal South regionals and many hours spent travelling.

Friday saw volleyball take on the NAIT Ooks at home, followed by the Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) Wolves visiting Val Matteotti Gymnasium on Saturday. While these games were happening, Kodiaks basketball teams were away at NAIT and NWP.

Futsal South regionals were held at Prairie College, with each team playing four games in two days. The women qualified for playoffs.

Finally, indoor track had a successful weekend at the second Grand Prix of the season hosted by Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens.

Volleyball

Feb. 9 WVB | Kodiaks 3 vs NAIT Ooks 0

On Friday night, the Kodiaks women's volleyball team had a strong showing as they swept the NAIT Ooks. The Kodiaks won the sets 25-19, 25-22 and 25-20. Aideena Wickstrom (fourth year, Exercise Science, Coaldale) contributed 12 kills in the three-set match.

Players of the Game:

Ooks: #9 Lexi Gedni

Kodiaks: #6 Aideena Wickstrom

Feb. 10 WVB | Kodiaks 3 vs NWP Wolves 2

Saturday saw an exciting five-match game between the Kodiaks and the NWP Wolves. The Kodiaks were able to come out on top winning 22-25, 25-10, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12. Eryka Woods (third year, Business Administration, Lethbridge) led the charge for the Kodiaks with 11 kills for the game.

Players of the Game:

Wolves: #1 Sierra LaValley

Kodiaks: 2 Abby Sauder

The Kodiaks women’s volleyball team closed out the regular season with a record of 8-11. They are set to host the 2024 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) next week, Feb. 22-24 in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.

Feb. 9 MVB | Kodiaks 2 vs NAIT Ooks 3

The Kodiaks lost a long five-set battle against the NAIT Ooks, 25-22, 25-22, 25-27, 21-26, 13-15. Kohlbe Anderson (first year, Business Administration, Claymont, Delaware) came up with some huge swings for the Kodiaks that was able to help their momentum throughout the match.

Players of the Game:

Ooks: #15 Shae McIntyre

Kodiaks: #17 Kohlbe Anderson

Feb. 10 MVB | Kodiaks 3 vs Wolves 2

On Saturday, the Kodiaks finished their regular season at home with a five-set win over the NWP Wolves:  23-25, 25-19, 25-15, 22-25, 15-11. Sam Crighton (third year, Business Administration, Lethbridge) had a good showing for his team on his senior night coming up with five big digs to help his team secure the win.

Players of the Game:

Wolves: #2 Jeremy Weaver

Kodiaks: #55 Sam Crighton

The Kodiaks men’s volleyball team has clinched a spot in this year’s ACAC championships hosted by Olds College after finishing the regular season with a record of 13-6. They will be the third seed in the South going into the tournament.

Basketball

Feb. 9 WBB | Kodiaks 62 vs NAIT Ooks 44

Friday night saw an exciting matchup between the Kodiaks and the Ooks. The Kodiaks were able to come out of the gate strong and keep their lead winning 62-44. Courtney Deemter (third year, Bachelor of Nursing, Calgary) led the game in points with 14 on the night. 

Players of the Game:

Ooks: #14 Grace Culshaw

Kodiaks: #9 Courtney Deemter

Feb. 10 WBB | Kodiaks 77 vs NWP Wolves 40

On Saturday night, the Kodiaks took on the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves. The Kodiaks were able to take control of the game early and won the game 77-40. Jocelyn Neilson (second year, Open Studies, Lethbridge) led the Kodiaks with 10 rebounds for the game.

Players of the Game:

Wolves: #10 Sam Blum

Kodiaks: #22 Jocelyn Neilson

Feb. 9 MBB | Kodiaks 81 vs Nait Ooks 72

Friday night saw a fierce battle between the Kodiaks and Ooks fighting for playoff seeding. The Kodiaks were able to grab hold of the lead early and maintain it throughout the game to win 81-72. Mason Hoffman (second year, General Arts and Science, Magrath) led his team to victory with 24 points on the night.

Players of the Game:

Ooks: #1 Griffin Lorenz

Kodiaks: #3 Mason Hoffman

Sat. Feb 10 MBB | Kodiaks 77 vs NWP Wolves 80

On Saturday the Kodiaks took a close loss of 77-80 to the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves. The Kodiaks were leading the game until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Filip Karanovic (third year, General Arts and Science, Herceg Novic, Montenegro) stayed consistent throughout the game scoring 18 points for the Kodiaks.

Players of the Game:

Wolves: #20 Emmanuel Iloka

Kodiaks: #7 Filip Karanovic

Futsal

Feb 9. WFUT | Kodiaks 2 vs SAIT Trojans 2

The Kodiaks started the first game of South regionals against the top-placed SAIT Trojans. This was the first time the two teams had seen each other this season. The game resulted in a 2-2 tie.

Players of the Game:

Trojans: Unknown

Kodiaks: #2 Keira Worsey

Feb 9. WFUT | Kodiaks 5 vs Olds College Broncos 0

The Kodiaks played their second game of South regionals against the Olds College Broncos. The last time these two teams met, the Kodiaks secured a 4-1 win. This game was much of the same with the Kodiaks taking a 5-0 victory over the Broncos.

Players of the Game:

Broncos: Unknown

Kodiaks: #23 Gracee Valgardson

Feb 10. WFUT | Kodiaks 6 vs Ambrose Lions 0

The first game on Saturday was against the Ambrose Lions. Kodiak goals were scored by Gracee Valgardson (first year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) and Megan Morrison (third year, Bachelor of Nursing, Medicine Hat), with two a piece coming from Kyra Piekema (first year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) and Jayna Taminski (third year, Child and Youth Care, Calgary). The Kodiaks won 6-0 with Jordan Quinn (third year, Bachelor of Nursing, Picture Butte) in net.

Players of the Game:

Lions: Unknown

Kodiaks: #8 Kyra Piekema

Feb 10. WFUT | Kodiaks 14 vs Prairie College Pilots 0

The final Kodiak game of South regionals was a high scoring game. The Kodiaks beat the Prairie College Pilots 14-0. Single goals were scored by Gracee Valgardson, Kyra Piekema, Keira Worsey (second year, General Arts and Science, Raymond), Taylor Hrycun (fifth year, General Arts and Science, Edmonton), Abigail Leusink (first year, Genral Arts and Science, Picture Butte), Keyarah Tofin (first year, Business Administration, Mediicine Hat), Ana Waurynchuk (third year, General Arts and Science, Cranbrook, B.C.) and Ivy Hozack (first year, General Arts and Science, Medicine Hat). Double Kodiak goals were scored by Megan Morrison, Jordan Wright (first year, Bachelor of Nursing, Calgary) and Jayna Taminski.

Players of the Game:

Pilots: Unknown

Kodiaks: #15 Jayna Taminski

The Kodiak women’s futsal team finished south regionals 3-0-1. The team secured their spot in this year’s championships March 8-10 hosted by Portage College.

Feb 9. MFUT | Kodiaks 1 vs SAIT Trojans 2

Kodiak started off South regionals with a close game against the first-ranked SAIT Trojans. The Trojans won 2-1.

Players of the Game:

Trojans: Unknown

Kodiaks: GK Trey Luyke ()

Feb 9. MFUT | Kodiaks 2 vs Olds College Broncos 4

The second game against the Olds College Broncos had an exciting second half of action, with the two Kodiak goals being scored after halftime. The Kodiaks lost 4-2.

Players of the Game:

Trojans: Unknown

Kodiaks: #12 Ethan McClelland

Feb 10. MFUT | Kodiaks 5 vs Ambrose Lions 2

The third Kodiak game of South regionals saw a 5-2 Kodiak win over the Lions. Kodiak goals were scored by Brandon Francis (second year, Exercise Science, Lethbridge), Joshua Shonibare (first year, Business Administration, Wolverhampton, England), Ryder Skolka (first year, Business Administration, Nelson, B.C.), Joel Mcleod (second year, Business Management, Medicine Hat) and Vincent Dyck (third year, Business Administration, Lethbridge).

Players of the Game:

Lions: Unknown

Kodiaks: #24 Josh Shonibare

Feb 10. MFUT | Kodiaks 7 vs Prairie College Pilots 0

In the fourth and final Kodiak game of South regionals, the Kodiaks ended on a 7-0 win over the Prairie College Pilots.

Players of the Game:

Pilots: Unknown

Kodiaks: #11 Vincent Dyck

Kodiak men’s futsal finished south regionals 2-2-0, scoring 15 goals and allowing 12 goals.

Indoor Track

Feb 10. WIT

The women finished second in both the 4x200m and 4x400m relays with huge time improvements from last meet. These times put them now just a few seconds behind Red Deer Polytechnic Queens. Kate Block (first year, Exercise Science, Waldheim, Sask.) delivered in her debut 3000m race, finishing in third place and breaking the 12-minute barrier. Katrina Michel (first year, Practical Nurse, Okotoks) secured a third-place finish in the 1000m.

Feb 10. MIT

The men's sprint group continued their dominance, winning both the 4x200m and 4x400m relays. There were standout performances in the middle-distance events, notably with Owen Stewart (second year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) clinching victory in the 1000m event, setting a new school record with a time of 2:31.91. Conner Van Den Hoek (first year, Business Administration, Fort Macleod) secured a third-place finish in the 600m.

In the long-distance events, Ethan Grasmeyer (first year, Natural Resource Compliance, Smithers, B.C.) broke the 10-minute mark in the 3000m event for the first time, securing second place, closely followed by teammate Justin Fisher (fourth year, Bachelor of Nursing, Claresholm) in third. Stewart continued his winning streak by winning the 1500m event.