Weekend Recap: Kodiaks close out fall semester

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks court sports played in their final Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) games of the fall term this past weekend.

Kodiaks basketball hosted two north teams, the Augustana Vikings and NAIT Ooks, with the women’s team losing both games and the men’s team winning both.

Kodiaks volleyball was on the road where the women’s team lost both matches and the men’s team split the weekend – winning Friday night against Augustana and falling short Saturday night against NAIT.

Basketball

Nov. 28 WBB | Kodiaks 49 vs UAA Vikings 60

The Kodiaks women’s basketball team had to weather an early storm, as the Vikings jumped out to a 17–9 lead after the opening quarter despite some strong moments from the Kodiaks. Summer Long (first year, General Arts and Science, Raymond) got Lethbridge on the board with a determined drive to the rim, and Chase Wells-Creighton (second year, Exercise Science, Standoff) answered later with a three-pointer and a tough finish inside while Gianna Gammie (second year, General Arts and Science, Nanton) added a layup to keep the visitors within striking distance. The defence showed its teeth early with steals from Nyomi Heins (second year, Therapeutic Recreation, Diamond City) and solid work on the glass from Yar Biar (first year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge), and that grit started to pay off in the second. Zoe Michelson (first year, General Arts and Science, Stirling) sparked the comeback with a slashing layup, Wells-Creighton kept carving out space in the paint and Heins attacked downhill in transition. Off the bench, Gammie chipped in at the stripe and first-year guard Paighton Kumson (third year, Correctional Studies, Edmonton) caught fire, drilling a three and then knifing in for a layup to briefly put the Kodiaks in front. Lethbridge poured in 17 points in the frame and swung the momentum, but a late response from the Vikings meant the Kodiaks still trailed 31–26 at the half.

After the break, the Kodiaks kept punching but faced an Augustana side that found its rhythm. Gaby Power (fourth year, Early Childhood Education, Calgary) calmly knocked down early free throws and Long continued to live at the line, earning multiple trips as she pushed the pace and attacked the heart of the defence. Even as the Vikings nudged the lead into double digits, Lethbridge refused to go away: Long buried a three and followed it up with a driving layup, Kumson stayed composed at the stripe and Michelson battled on the glass to create extra possessions, helping the Kodiaks trim the deficit to 11 at 53–42 after three. In the fourth, Lethbridge made one last surge as Wells-Creighton finished on the offensive glass and added free throws, Long came up with a chase-down block and a steal and Power drilled a big wing three off a Long kick-out to pull the Kodiaks within six at 55–49. The closing minutes saw several looks at the rim and from deep just refuse to drop, and the Vikings capitalized with a late three to close out a 60–49 final.

ACAC Player of the game:

LPK: #6 Paighton Kumson

Nov. 29 WBB | Kodiaks 52 vs NAIT Ooks 89

Lethbridge Polytechnic found themselves in a track meet early as NAIT came out firing from deep, but the Kodiaks answered with their own offence in the first half. Long set the tone by calmly drilling a three off a kick-out from Power, then added trips to the line as she attacked the paint. Michelson joined the barrage with a three of her own and later sliced in for a layup, while Wells-Creighton went to work inside with a series of strong finishes to keep the gap manageable. Off the bench, Gammie and Kumson provided a spark, while Biar battled inside for an and-one finish and extra possessions. Heins contributed at both ends with defensive rebounds, a smart assist and makes at the stripe, and Ava Michelson (first year, General Arts and Science, Stirling) relentlessly attacked the glass to generate second-chance looks. Despite the effort and balanced scoring, a late NAIT surge from the perimeter sent the Kodiaks into the locker room trailing 44–28 at halftime.

In the second half, the Kodiaks kept competing and looking for answers against a NAIT side that stayed hot from long range. Long continued to attack, creating free-throw opportunities and pushing the ball in transition, while Power worked to steady the group with drives to the rim and aggressive defence on the perimeter. Wells-Creighton remained a force inside with finishes at the hoop and a trip to the line and Biar added another strong layup as Lethbridge refused to back down. The Kodiaks’ depth took the floor in the fourth: Gammie chipped in at the stripe, Heins added late free throws and Mylynn Lewis (first year, General Arts and Science, Onion Lake, Alta.) crashed the glass to extend possessions. Z. Michelson stayed poised under pressure with repeated trips to the line and Kaycee Tallman (first year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) knocked down a clean jumper in the closing stretch as the bench closed out the night. Ultimately the Kodiaks fell to NAIT with a final score of 89–52.

ACAC Player of the game:

LPK: #12 Zoe Michelson

Nov. 28 MBB | Kodiaks 87 vs UAA Vikings 76

Lethbridge Polytechnic’s men shook off a slow start and turned the first half into a statement of toughness and tempo. After an early deficit, Marley Kenion (first year, Child and Youth Care, Coventry, England) and Levi Balderson (second year, General Arts and Science, Welling) settled the Kodiaks in as Kenion attacked the rim for a layup and points at the stripe, while Balderson calmly knocked down free throws and a three to keep things tight. Nathaniel Hosannah (second year, Business Administration, Tacoma, Wash.) then ignited the game with a string of downhill attacks that included a defensive steal with a dunk to get the crowd excited. Off the bench, Randall Mongard (first year, Open Studies, Laval, Que.) provided a huge spark with multiple finishes at the rim and trips to the line and Treyden Barton (fourth year, General Arts and Science, Raymond) and Coleson Lake (fifth year, Business Administration, Eagle, Idaho) moved the ball and hit the glass to extend possessions. As the second quarter wore on, the Kodiaks’ defence turned stops into points as Lake put up some layups, Hosannah exploded for another dunk and Balderson splashed a three just before the buzzer. Behind that balanced surge and relentless pressure, Lethbridge outscored the Vikings 23–14 in the second frame to flip the script and take a 40–32 lead into halftime.

After the break, the Kodiaks fully seized control, with Hosannah and Balderson orchestrating a dominant second half. Hosannah opened the third quarter barrage by stepping out for a three, then kept cutting into the paint for layups and another soaring dunk in transition, while Balderson drilled threes, hit tough jumpers and continued to find teammates for easy buckets. Mongard stayed active around the rim with rebounds, put-backs and composed trips to the line and Lake’s steady decision-making produced more layups and kick-outs that led to threes from Balderson, Barton and West James (second year, Business Administration, Raymond) as the lead stretched past 20. Nolan Grindle (first year, Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Coalhurst) added composed free throws and key defensive boards, and the Kodiaks guards controlled the tempo late with Kenion closing things out at the stripe and Balderson adding a final layup and free throw to slam the door. Lethbridge’s pace, depth and attacking mindset powered them to an 87–76 victory.

ACAC Player of the game:

LPK: #10 Nathaniel Hosannah

Nov. 29 MBB | Kodiaks 88 vs NAIT Ooks 63

The Kodiaks came out sharp on both ends and seized full control of the game against the NAIT Ooks. Defensively, the tone was set immediately as Balderson opened the night with a block and rebound, and the Kodiaks’ pressure quickly turned into points. Kenion got them on the board with an early layup, then Hosannah caught fire cutting to the rim for a layup, cashing the and-one and hammering home a transition dunk after his own steal to force an early NAIT timeout. Balderson powered his way to the rim and then stepped out to knock down multiple threes, while Barton, Mongard, Rhett Lewis (third year, General Arts and Science, Cardston) and Kade Lund (second year, General Arts and Science, Barnwell) all chipped in with drives and mid-range jumpers as the half wore on. The Kodiaks also owned the glass and the free-throw line, with Mongard and Lund converting at the stripe and Hosannah repeatedly getting downhill. By the break, Lethbridge had spread the scoring across its rotation and turned stops into a steady stream of layups and kick-outs, building a commanding 47–25 halftime lead.

The second half was about maintaining that standard and closing the door with depth and balance. Hosannah and Balderson kept the offense hot out of the locker room with jumpers, drives and a late third-quarter three from Hosannah that pushed the margin to 70–47. Inside, Mongard and Kenion continued to attack, combining finishes in traffic with trips to the line, while Lewis added timely layups and three-point attempts that kept NAIT’s defense stretched. As the fourth quarter unfolded, the Kodiaks’ bench took over the spotlight: Mongard drilled a three and scored at the rim, Grindle slashed in for buckets and rebounds and Memphis Gambler-Yellow Knee (first year, Open Studies, Leduc, Alta.) calmly knocked down free throws. Kenion added a late layup to cap the night, and with multiple players contributing at both ends, Lethbridge comfortably closed out an 88–63 victory.

ACAC Player of the game:

LPK: #7 Levi Balderson

Kodiaks basketball will host their first game back from the winter break against the St. Mary University Lightning at 6 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.

Volleyball

Nov. 28 WVB | Kodiaks 0 vs UAA Vikings 3 (21-25, 16-25, 18-25)

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks women’s volleyball team battled hard in a straight-sets road loss to the University of Alberta–Augustana Vikings, falling 21–25, 16–25, 18–25 but showing clear strides in efficiency and balance on offence. After a competitive opening set, the Kodiaks put together their cleanest attacking set in the second, hitting .368 as a team. Robyn Austin (second year, Business Administration, Lethbridge) paced the attack with a team-high five kills, while the middle trio of Olivia Wideman (first year, Interior Design Technology, Calgary), Sofia Janzen (third year, Agriculture Sciences, Carseland, Alta.) and Lauren Barker (fourth year, Architectural Animation Technology, Calgary) combined for 11 kills and provided steady scoring through the middle of the floor. Wideman chipped in three kills, Janzen added four on a blistering .571 hitting percentage and Barker matched that output with four kills at a .333 clip. Setter Kiara Wilson (first year, General Arts and Science - Health Sciences, Dauphin, Man.) directed the offence with 15 assists, helping Lethbridge find rhythm in stretches as they challenged the Vikings at the net.

The Kodiaks’ best offensive surges came when their serving and blocking game clicked together, particularly in the second and third sets. Janzen led the way from the service line with two aces to go along with her four kills and a solo block, while Wideman added two aces of her own for a five-point night. Trinity Walton (second year, Criminal Justice – Policing, Warman, Sask.) turned in an all-around performance with three kills, seven digs, two solo blocks and an ace and Barker matched her six total points with her combination of kills and blocks. Off the bench, Helen Machar (first year, Criminal Justice – Policing, St. Albert, Alta.) provided a spark with two kills on six swings, and the backcourt group of Madison Yates (first year, General Arts and Science - Psychology and Sociology, Swift Current, Sask.), Quincy Price (third year,  General Arts and Science, Coaldale) and Austin helped stabilize the defence as rallies extended.

ACAC Player of the game:

LPK: #20 Lauren Barker

Nov. 29 WVB | Kodiaks 0 vs NAIT Ooks 3 (13-25, 20-25, 16-25)

The Kodiaks showed resilience on the road but were unable to keep pace with the nationally ranked NAIT Ooks, falling 13–25, 20–25, 16–25 in Edmonton. After a challenging opening set, the Kodiaks responded in the second with their strongest stretch of the match, pushing NAIT deep into rallies. Austin led the offence with 10 kills, finding momentum through the middle frames and serving an ace as part of her 11-point afternoon. Barker added five kills on 13 swings, while Machar chipped in six kills to provide additional power from the right side. Setter Wilson steadied the attack with 20 assists, helping the Kodiaks generate more rhythm after a difficult start.

Despite NAIT’s pressure from the service line and at the net, Lethbridge found bright spots throughout the match. Emma Blumenschein (fourth year, Bachelor of Nursing, Spruce Grove, Alta.) supplied two kills, an ace and a solo block to spark the front court, while Keyarah Tofin (third year, Exercise Science, Medicine Hat) contributed two kills and an ace while taking on a significant share of serve reception. Price anchored the defence with eight digs, and wide-reaching defensive support came from Austin with five digs and Machar with another five. Walton and Wilson each added a solo block, helping the Kodiaks slow NAIT’s momentum during stretches of the second and third sets.

ACAC Player of the game:

LPK: #3 Robyn Austin

Nov. 28 MVB | Kodiaks 3 vs UAA Vikings 1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-22, 25-14)

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks men’s volleyball team powered to a four-set victory on the road against the University of Alberta–Augustana Vikings, winning 25–20, 24–26, 25–22, 25–14. The Kodiaks opened with a balanced attacking effort, hitting .259 in the first set before elevating their efficiency to .304 in the second and finishing the match with a dominant .462 performance in the fourth. Outside hitter Cameron Marshall (third year, Criminal Justice – Policing, Adelaide, South Australia) was the driving force offensively, delivering 19 kills on a .421 hitting percentage to set the tone throughout the night. Middle blocker Tristan Iwanczuk (first year, Business Administration, Lethbridge) added five kills on 16 swings along with three solo blocks, while Corny Bergen (first year, Business Administration, Picture Butte) chipped in another five kills to help Lethbridge control the middle of the court. Setter Ben St. Pierre (fifth year, Open Studies, Red Deer) guided the offence with 22 assists and two kills, helping the Kodiaks stay composed through tight moments in the second and third sets.

Defensively, libero Malcolm Fisher (fifth year, Open Studies, Lethbridge) anchored the backcourt with 13 digs, and Gavin Worobec (first year, Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Vegreville, Alta.) added nine more along with three momentum-building aces from the service line. Karl Petker (third year, Agricultural Sciences, Coaldale) contributed four kills, an ace and three solo blocks as the Kodiaks’ front line steadily wore down the Vikings’ attack. After Augustana claimed the second set, Lethbridge responded with poise, closing the third behind improved serving pressure and blocking before surging ahead in the fourth with complete control on both sides of the ball.

ACAC Player of the game:

LPK: #5 Malcolm Fisher

Nov. 29 MVB | Kodiaks 1 vs NAIT Ooks 3 (16-25, 19-25, 26-24, 23-25)

The Kodiaks battled through a hard-fought four-set match on the road but ultimately fell 16–25, 19–25, 26–24, 23–25 to the NAIT Ooks in Edmonton. After a difficult opening set, the Kodiaks gradually settled into their offence, highlighted by a strong third set in which they edged out a 26–24 win to extend the match. Setter St. Pierre steered the attack with 37 assists and added an ace and a kill, while Marshall led the offence with 11 kills on the outside. Middle blocker Petker delivered one of the most efficient performances of the night with nine kills on 20 swings for a .400 hitting percentage and Worobec provided a major spark with 10 kills and an ace to reach 11 points. Iwanczuk also chipped in offensively with four kills and added two solo blocks to help slow NAIT’s rhythm at the net.

Defensively, Brady Ewart (first year, General Arts and Science, Saskatoon) anchored the backcourt with 15 digs, while Worobec and Marshall added seven and five digs respectively. Fisher contributed four kills and five digs while adding a timely ace, and St. Pierre kept the Kodiaks competitive from the service line as the match tightened in the third and fourth sets. Despite their improved hitting and a resilient push to take the third frame, the Kodiaks couldn’t quite overcome NAIT’s sustained offensive efficiency, particularly late in sets.

ACAC Player of the game:

LPK: #16 Karl Petker

Kodiaks volleyball will return to the court in 2026 with their first matches in a home-and-home series against the Ambrose University Lions. Games will be at 6 and 8 p.m. on Jan. 16 and 17 with the Kodiaks hosting the first night and playing on the road the next.