Weekend preview: Kodiaks competitions heat up

It’s another full weekend for Kodiaks athletics with six teams competing.

Kodiaks volleyball returns to the home-court for the first time in the new year as the men’s and women’s teams take on the Olds College Broncos Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Friday night is also the Lethbridge Volleyball Club night, when all current LVC players and coaches get free admission to the games.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams travel to Olds for back-to-back weekend games against the Broncos.

The women’s and men’s indoor track teams are set to compete in their first ACAC Grand Prix competition of the season. The men’s team is looking for a repeat of claiming last year’s team title, while the women are fighting for the number one spot.

Volleyball

Women’s volleyball

Kodiaks (2-11) vs Olds College Broncos (2-12)

• Friday, Jan 26 | 6 p.m. at Val Matteotti Gymnasium
• Saturday, Jan 27 | 1 p.m. at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

The Kodiaks women’s volleyball team is looking to bounce back this weekend with their home games against the Broncos. The Kodiaks look to build off the momentum and excitement of a home crowd on Friday night.

Outside hitter Kourtney Serfas (first year, Bachelor of Nursing, Turin, Alta.) has proven to be a force on the court with 61 kills so far this season. Taryn Bach (third year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) is 11th in the conference for assist per set averaging with 5.83.

Men’s volleyball

Kodiaks (8-5) vs Olds College Broncos (8-6)

• Friday, Jan 26 | 8 p.m. at Val Matteotti Gymnasium
• Saturday, Jan 27 | 3 p.m. at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

The Kodiaks will have a tough weekend going up against the Broncos team that is just behind them in the ACAC standings. The Kodiaks need to win this weekend at home in hopes for a higher seed going into playoffs.

Nolan Moes (fourth year, General Arts and Science, Barrhead, Alta.) is currently second in the conference with kills and kills per set. Paul Dionne (fourth year, General Arts and Science, Weyburn, Sask.) is sitting at seventh in the league for blocks and will be look to to help offset the high attacking Broncos.

Basketball

Women’s basketball

Kodiaks (10-3) at Olds College Broncos (1-13)

• Friday, Jan 26 | 6 p.m. at Ralph Klein Center
• Saturday, Jan 27 | 1 p.m. at Ralph Klein Center

The Kodiak women’s basketball team looks to add a couple of wins to their record as they go back on the road to Olds to stay in the fight for the top seed in the south this weekend.

Second year Madison Barfuss (Therapeutic Recreation Gerontology, Hill Spring, Alta.) has proven to be a presence this semester, averaging 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Emily Hall (third year, Practical Nurse, Magrath) sits at third place in the league with a 38.2 three-point percentage.

Men’s basketball

Kodiaks (8-5) at Olds College Broncos (5-9)

• Friday, Jan 26 | 8 p.m. at Ralph Klein Center
• Saturday, Jan 27 | 3 p.m. at Ralph Klein Center

The Kodiaks men’s basketball team faces off against a high energy, high scoring Bronco squad this weekend. The Kodiaks look to continue to separate themselves in the standings with success on the road.

Men’s basketball picked up new players for the new semester and with a few games under their belt they have made themselves comfortable in the ACAC. One of their new additions Drayden Walburger (first year, Business Administration, Magrath) has jumped into a big role for the Kodiaks. He is averaging 19.8 points per game and shooting 48.3 percent from the field.

Indoor track

• Saturday, Jan 27 | 9 a.m. at Kinsmen Sports Centre, Edmonton 

The Kodiaks will kick off the Indoor Track season this weekend with the ACAC/Running Room Grand Prix #1 hosted by Concordia University of Edmonton.

In the women’s division, Katrina Michel (first year, Practical Nurse, Okotoks), the Kodiaks top female cross country runner in 2023, will be competing in the 600m and 4x400 relay. The team also expects to see big things out of top sprint recruit Kayla Mangatal (first year, General Arts and Science, St Paul, Alta.) in the 60m, 300m and 4x200m relay.

In the men’s division, Gunnar Gibb (third year, Exercise Science, Cardston), the current college record holder in the 300m, will compete in the 60m, 300m and 4x200m relay. Owen Stewart (second year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge), the top Kodiaks male cross-country runner in 2023, will look to excel in the 600m and 4x400m relay.