Weekend Recap: Kodiaks close out the Val for this year’s athletic season

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks court sports finished their last weekend of regular season action against Red Deer Polytechnic.

At home, Kodiaks women's volleyball took two competitive losses to a nationally ranked Queens team. The men's volleyball team split their weekend games and will go into championships with a win.

On the road, our women's basketball team split their games and got the win that secured their spot at championships. The Kodiaks men's team came home with two wins, securing the number two team spot in the South Division at championships in two weeks.

Volleyball

Feb. 20 WVB | Kodiaks 1 vs RDP Queens 3 (17-25, 25-22, 20-25, 10-25)

The Kodiaks women's volleyball team battled the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens on the home court Friday night but fell in four sets, 3–1. Lethbridge dropped the opening set 25–17 before responding with a strong second frame, limiting errors and finding an offensive rhythm to even the match with a 25–22 win. The Queens regained control in the third, taking it 25–20, and carried that momentum into the fourth to secure the match with a 25–10 final score.

Robyn Austin (second year, Business Administration, Lethbridge) once again led the Kodiaks offensively, recording a team-high 17 kills on .333 hitting while adding six digs, a solo block and an ace in a steady all-around performance. Robyn Rivard (first year, Automotive Systems certificate, Calgary) contributed five kills and a service ace, while Jorja Hamilton (first year, General Arts and Science - Health Sciences, Meadow Lake, Sask.) added four kills and three digs. In the middle, Sofia Janzen (third year, Agricultural Sciences, Carseland, Alta.) was efficient with two kills on .333 hitting, chipped in an assist and a service ace and led the team at the net with three solo blocks. Trinity Walton added two kills on limited swings. Reese Hanusich (fourth year, General Arts and Science, Red Deer) directed the offence with 24 assists and a service ace. 

ACAC Player of the Game:
LPK: #11 Sofia Janzen

Feb. 21 WVB | Kodiaks 0 vs RDP Queens 3 (15-25, 20-25, 19-25)

The Kodiaks women's volleyball team wrapped up their season against the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens on Saturday afternoon, falling in straight sets, 3–0. Red Deer claimed the match 25–15, 25–20 and 25–19, pulling away late in each set despite continued pushes from Lethbridge.

The Kodiaks found more offensive rhythm as the match progressed, turning in their strongest performance in the third set with 13 kills and a .323 hitting percentage, but were unable to slow the Queens' attack. Austin led the Kodiaks with eight kills and added a team-high 14 digs to anchor the back row. Emma Blumenschein (fourth year, Bachelor of Nursing, Spruce Grove, Alta.) played her first match for the Kodiaks as an outside hitter and had six kills and two service aces. Janzen proved solid in the middle again with five kills and an efficient .308 hitting percentage. Lauren Barker(fourth year, Architectural Animation Technology, Calgary) was strong at the net, finishing with five kills on .500 hitting, two service aces and a team-high three solo blocks. Madison Yates (first year, General Arts and Science - Psychology and Sociology, Swift Current, Sask.) led all players with 17 digs as the Kodiaks totaled 43 team digs and three total blocks in the three-set contest.

ACAC Player of the Game:
LPK: #11 Sofia Janzen

Feb. 20 MVB | Kodiaks 2 vs RDP Kings 3 (19-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 13-15)

In a national ranking showdown, the No. 15 Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks pushed the No. 5 Red Deer Polytechnic Kings to the limit before falling in five sets, 3–2. The Kings opened strong with 25–19 and 25–16 wins, but the Kodiaks responded with authority, taking the third set 25–21 and the fourth 25–23 to force a deciding fifth. Lethbridge battled point-for-point in the final frame before Red Deer narrowly secured the match with a 15–13 victory.

Cameron Marshall (third year, Criminal Justice – Policing, Adelaide, South Australia) led the Kodiaks attack with 17 kills on .343 hitting, adding two solo blocks. Ben Dyck (third year, Agricultural Sciences, Coaldale) matched him with 17 kills of his own while posting an efficient .467 percentage, along with four service aces and four digs in a dynamic performance. Shaye Wall (fourth year, Bachelor of Ecosystem Management, Lac Pelletier, Sask.) contributed seven kills, a service ace and three solo blocks, while Tristan Iwanczuk (first year, Business Administration, Lethbridge) provided four kills on .500 hitting and five digs. Malcolm Fisher (fifth year, Open Studies, Lethbridge) anchored the back row with a team-high 14 digs, while setter Ben St. Pierre (fifth year, Open Studies, Red Deer) directed the offence with 42 assists, three service aces and five digs. 

ACAC Player of the Game:
LPK: #1 Ben St. Pierre

LPK: #5 Malcolm Fisher

Feb. 21 MVB | Kodiaks 3 vs RDP Kings 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-23)

The Kodiaks responded in a big way Saturday afternoon, earning a statement straight-set victory. After falling in five sets the night before, the Kodiaks controlled play from start to finish, claiming the match 25–21, 25–18 and 25–23 on their home court.

Corny Bergen (first year, Business Administration, Picture Butte) led the offence with nine kills on an efficient .412 hitting percentage, adding a service ace, six digs and two solo blocks in a strong all-around effort. Wall also contributed eight kills of his own, a service ace and a solo block. In the middle, Karl Petker (third year, Agricultural Sciences, Coaldale) was a force, finishing with four kills and a team-high four solo blocks. directing the attack. Defensively, Bergen's six digs paced the Kodiaks, while the team totaled 10 solo blocks and 23 digs in the three-set win. The victory caps a strong end to their regular season and builds momentum they can carry over into the championship tournament this weekend.

ACAC Player of the Game:
LPK: #14 Corny Bergen 

Basketball

Feb. 20 WBB | Kodiaks 69 at RDP Queens 65

The Kodiaks opened the game with a strong first quarter, using aggressive drives and disruptive defence. Chase Wells-Creighton (second year, Exercise Science, Standoff) set the tone early by attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line, while Summer Long (first year, General Arts and Science, Raymond) and Nyomi Heins (second year, Therapeutic Recreation – Gerontology, Diamond City, Alta.) created extra possessions with steals that turned into points. Gaby Power (fourth year, Early Childhood Education, Calgary) and Zoe Michelson (first year, General Arts and Science, Stirling, Alta.) added timely baskets to keep the Kodiaks ahead 19–15 at the end of the first. 

Lethbridge carried that momentum into the second quarter and opened the frame with a quick scoring burst as Heins converted a jumper, Ava Michelson (first year, General Arts and Science, Stirling, Alta.) finished a look in the lane, and Gianna Gammie (second year, General Arts and Science, Nanton) knocked down a three to stretch the lead. Wells-Creighton continued to pressure the paint with second-chance finishes and trips to the line, while Power helped settle possessions, and the Kodiaks went into halftime up 40–29 after a 21–14 second quarter.

The Kodiaks came out of the break with energy and control in the third quarter, getting stops and pushing the margin with timely execution. Power scored early and added a steal, and Wells-Creighton attacked downhill for a pair of strong finishes, including an and-one sequence that helped Lethbridge build a 47–29 advantage. Long and Z. Michelson helped spark the defence with steals and rebounds, and the Kodiaks closed the quarter ahead 51–37 after holding Red Deer to eight points in the frame. The Queens made a late push in the fourth, but Lethbridge answered every run with big plays on both ends to close out the 69–65 win. Long hit two clutch threes and added key steals in the open floor, while Wells-Creighton continued to generate offence at the rim and from the line to steady the Kodiaks as the lead tightened. With Red Deer threatening in the final minute, Heins buried a critical three off a Long assist to restore breathing room, and Lethbridge finished the game at the stripe to secure the four-point road victory.

ACAC Player of the Game:
LPK: #23 Chase Wells-Creighton

Feb. 21 WBB | Kodiaks 77 at RDP Queens 81

The Kodiaks opened the game with an energetic first quarter, setting the tone with active hands and early pressure while building a narrow 12–11 lead. Long got Lethbridge going with a three and continued to generate offence with stops and rebounds, while Power sparked the defence with a steal. Wells-Creighton helped steady possessions and set up Long for another triple, and the Kodiaks answered Red Deer's early threes to stay in front. 

Lethbridge then found its rhythm in the second quarter, stretching the lead with perimeter shots and transition chances. Power knocked down a three, Wells-Creighton hit from deep and attacked the lane for finishes, and Long continued to pressure both ends as the Kodiaks forced turnovers and turned them into points during a decisive run to take a 36–19 advantage into halftime.

The Kodiaks carried that momentum into the third quarter and continued to control the game, outscoring the Queens. Long opened the half with another three, Heins finished a set with a jumper off a Wells-Creighton assist, and the Kodiaks kept creating extra possessions through steals and hustle plays to extend the lead to 53–38. 

In the fourth, Red Deer made a late push and outscored Lethbridge 14–29. The Kodiaks answered with timely buckets, including a late three from Z. Michelson. The Queens continued to chip away and erased the deficit and forced overtime as the teams finished regulation tied 67–67. In overtime, Long hit another big three and Wells-Creightonconverted at the line to keep Lethbridge level, but Red Deer's late jumpers and a key three swung the final stretch as the Kodiaks were edged 81–77.

ACAC Player of the Game:
LPK: #6 Paighton Kumson

Feb. 20 MBB | Kodiaks 86 at RDP Kings 58

The Kodiaks opened the game by settling in after a couple early turnovers and quickly turning defence into offence. Jackson Wright (third year, Business Administration, Claresholm) got Lethbridge on the board with a second-chance finish, and Nathaniel Hosannah (second year, Business Administration, Tacoma, Wash.) followed with strong interior touches and trips to the line as the Kodiaks grabbed control. Levi Balderson (second year, General Arts and Science, Welling, Alta.) ignited a surge with a three and a string of confident jumpers, while hustle on the glass and timely steals helped Lethbridge build separation. Marley Kenion (first year, Child and Youth Care, Coventry, England) and West James (second year, Plumber Apprenticeship, Raymond) added key baskets late in the frame as the Kodiaks closed the first quarter in front, 32–15. Lethbridge kept the pressure on in the second, leaning on Hosannah's touch inside and steady bench minutes to maintain the tempo. Kade Lund (second year, General Arts and Science, Barnwell, Alta.) and Nolen Grindle (first year, Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Coalhurst, Alta.) chipped in during a stretch of extra possessions, and the Kodiaks answered Red Deer's pushes with composed execution to carry a 50–34 lead into halftime.

Coming out of the break, the Kodiaks put their foot down again, tightening up defensively and building the lead with efficient scoring in the half court. Hosannah continued to finish around the rim and at the stripe, and Baldersonstayed aggressive, attacking gaps and capitalizing on turnovers to swing momentum  Lethbridge's way. Wright and Zachary English (first year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) added timely buckets as the Kodiaks won the third quarter 23–13 to stretch the advantage to 73–47. In the fourth, Lethbridge stayed composed and played through their depth, keeping the Kings from generating a late run. Rhett Lewis (third year, General Arts and Science, Cardston) and Memphis Knee Gambler-Yellow (first year, Open Studies, Leduc, Alta.) provided energy on both ends, and Jamesknocked down a three to punctuate the closing minutes as the Kodiaks finished the night with an 86–58 win.

ACAC Player of the Game:
LPK: #4 Zachary English

Feb. 21 MBB | Kodiaks 91 at RDP Kings 62

The Kodiaks set the tone early by winning the glass and getting clean looks right away. Wright turned an offensive rebound into the game's first basket, and Hosannah established himself inside as Lethbridge jumped out front. Balderson caught fire from deep, drilling a string of threes as the Kodiaks' defence created extra chances, with Lewisand Randall Mongard (first year, Open Studies, Laval, Que.) coming up with steals that converted. Lethbridge's pressure and second-chance points fueled a runaway opening frame, and the Kodiaks finished the first quarter firmly in control, 32–8. In the second, Lethbridge kept the pace and continued to stack stops, even as Red Deer tried to settle in. Balderson stayed aggressive with another three and a pair of finishes, while Hosannah and Lund added timely buckets to steady the lead. Grindle brought energy on the boards and in transition, and the Kodiaks carried a 46–23 advantage into halftime.

Red Deer opened the third with a brief push, but Lethbridge answered with more perimeter punch from Balderson, who knocked down back-to-back threes to restore control. Mongard and Hosannah cleaned up possessions at both ends, and James buried a three during another Kodiaks run as the lead grew. Despite the Kings' sporadic scoring, Lethbridge's rebounding and ball pressure kept them comfortable, and they went to the fourth up 67–41 after a 21–18 third. In the final frame, the Kodiaks stayed composed and finished the job with efficient offence and continued energy from their depth. Hosannah and Wright scored early, Mongard drilled a pair of threes to stretch the margin, and Lethbridge kept answering every Red Deer basket with a response of their own. James and English added buckets late as the Kodiaks closed out a convincing 91–62 win.

ACAC Player of the Game:
LPK: #23 Randall Mongard