Weekend Recap: Wins, challenges, and a confident finish for Kodiaks

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks had a busy weekend of competition.

On Saturday, the Kodiaks volleyball teams split their home opener with the women losing 3-0 and the men defeating the Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) Thunder 3-0.

Basketball was on the road and also split with the CUE Thunder as the women lost 81-45, while the men won 78-62.

The soccer teams travelled to SAIT on Saturday for a tough battle, with both teams falling short. The next day the women's team hosted the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings for their last game of the regular season and came away with a win. 

Volleyball
Oct. 18 WVB | Kodiaks 0 vs CUE Thunder 3 | (24–26, 28–30, 15–25)

The Kodiaks women's volleyball team battled hard on their home court but ultimately fell in straight sets (24–26, 28–30, 15–25) to the visiting Concordia University Thunder. The first two sets were tightly contested, with the Kodiaks trading points throughout and showing strong offensive rhythm behind standout hitting from Robyn Austin (second year, Business Administration, Lethbridge), who tallied an impressive 18 kills and hit .410 in the match. Lethbridge showed grit in extended rallies, pushing both early sets past the 25-point mark, but Concordia capitalized on key points down the stretch to edge ahead each time.

In the third set, the Thunder's momentum carried over, and while the Kodiaks continued to fight, they couldn't regain the early energy that kept the match close. Setter Reese Hanusich (fourth year, General Arts and Science, Red Deer) led the offense with 24 assists, while Lauren Barker (fourth year, Architectural Animation Technology, Calgary) and Sofia Janzen (third year, Agriculture Sciences, Carseland, Alta.) contributed solid efforts at the net with a combined 13 points between them. Despite the 3–0 result, the Kodiaks demonstrated strong individual performances and flashes of cohesion that will serve them well as they regroup and prepare for their next matchup.

ACAC Players of the Game:

LPK: #16 Quincy Price
CUE: #15 Kolby Zimmer

Oct. 18 MVB | Kodiaks 3 vs CUE Thunder 0 | (25–21, 25–19, 25–19)

The Kodiaks men's volleyball team delivered a dominant performance on their home court, sweeping the Concordia University Thunder in straight sets (25–21, 25–19, 25–19). The Kodiaks set the tone early with sharp execution and steady passing, highlighted by strong setting from Ben St. Pierre (fifth year, Open Studies, Red Deer), who tallied 14 assists in just two sets. The Kodiaks' offense was balanced and efficient, as the team hit an impressive .500 in the opening frame and controlled the tempo throughout the game.

Defensively, the Kodiaks kept Concordia off their rhythm with disciplined blocking and consistent coverage. Ben Dyck (third year, Agricultural Sciences, Coaldale) led the attack with eight kills and a .583 hitting percentage, while Corny Bergen (first year, Business Administration, Picture Butte) added seven kills and demonstrated solid work at the net. Malcolm Fisher (fifth year, Open Studies, Lethbridge) anchored the defense with seven digs, and the Kodiaks' cohesive effort on both sides of the ball sealed the 3–0 victory. The result capped off an impressive showing for the Kodiaks, who continue to build momentum early in the ACAC season.

ACAC Players of the Game:

LPK: #9 Ben Dyck
CUE: #8 Liam Frost

Basketball
Oct. 18 WBB | Kodiaks 45 at CUE Thunder 81

The Kodiaks women's basketball team opened with pace and confidence, taking a 17–14 lead after the first quarter behind shot-making from Bailey Blackmore (second year, Bachelor of Nursing, Magrath) and a deep three from Gaby Power (fourth year, Early Childhood Education, Calgary). Summer Long (first year, General Arts and Science, Raymond) steadied the group with trips to the free-throw line, while Gianna Gammie (second year, General Arts and Science, Nanton) provided a spark off the bench. In the second quarter, Lethbridge's offense cooled as turnovers mounted, but Nyomi Heins (second year, Therapeutic Recreation, Diamond City, Alta.) stemmed the tide with a strong finish inside and Zoe Michelson (first year, General Arts and Science, Stirling, Alta.) added a late bucket to keep the Kodiaks within striking distance. The Kodiaks trailed 29–24 at the break.

The Kodiaks punched first out of halftime as Blackmore drilled a three and Gammie scored at the rim to level it 29–29, before the CUE Thunder answered with a decisive run. The Kodiaks kept battling as Heins converted in the paint, Power hit a corner three, and Blackmore added another three and a late block. Paighton Kumson (third year, Correctional Studies, Edmonton) knocked down a fourth-quarter three and the bench logged hard minutes, but the gap continued to grow as the shots stopped falling and defensive rebounds proved costly. The Kodiaks fell 81–45 in their first game of the season.

ACAC Players of the Game:

LPK: #9 Summer Long

Oct. 18 MBB | Kodiaks 78 at CUE Thunder 62

The Kodiaks set the tone early and never trailed for long, riding balanced offense and active defense to a 49–37 halftime lead. Marley Kenion (first year, Child and Youth Care, Coventry, England) attacked the paint to spark the opening run, while Nathaniel Hosannah (first year, Business Administration, Tacoma, Washington) added timely drives and trips to the line to keep the momentum rolling. Levi Balderson (second year, General Arts and Science, Welling) stretched the floor with multiple first-half threes and a late steal-and-score sequence, and Treydon Barton (fourth year, General Arts and Science, Raymond) and Rhett Lewis (third year, General Arts and Science, Cardston) provided steady minutes off the bench. With Jackson Wright (third year, Business Administration, Claresholm) and Cole Lake (fifth year, Business Administration, Eagle, Idaho) cleaning up defensive boards, the Kodiaks closed the second quarter on a surge to create separation heading into the break.

The Kodiaks protected its cushion and limited Concordia to just 25 points in the second half. Kenion opened the third with a bucket and free throws to blunt any push, Hosannah and Barton kept pressure on the rim, and Balderson added key jumpers, including a fourth-quarter three. Lake knocked down a mid-range jumper, while Lewis anchored the defense with a block and rebounds to finish possessions. The Kodiaks' depth and discipline carried them to the end of the game, closing out a 78–62 road win.

ACAC Players of the Game:

LPK: #8 Marley Kenion

Soccer
Oct. 18 WSOC | Kodiaks 2 at SAIT Trojans 3

The Kodiaks women's soccer team came out strong on the road at SAIT, matching the Trojans' intensity early in the match. After SAIT opened the scoring in the 13th minute the Kodiaks responded with persistence and composure as Khloe Jankowiak (third year, Business Administration – Accounting, Lethbridge) tied it back up at 1-1 on a defensive lapse in the 31st minute. However, the Trojans quickly regained the lead just one minute later. Despite trailing 2–1 at the half, the Kodiaks continued to apply pressure, setting the stage for an intense second half.

The Kodiaks pushed hard in the second half, creating several quality chances and outshooting SAIT 13–9 overall. Their persistence paid off as Sophie DeMarsh (second year, Criminal Justice – Corrections, Calgary) scored in the final minute of regulation to tie the match 2–2, appearing to secure a hard-fought draw. However, the Trojans were able to score the game-winner in stoppage time to lift SAIT to a 3–2 victory.

ACAC Players of the Game:

LPK: #9 Ana Waurynchuk
SAIT: #1 Erin Mergen

Oct. 19 WSOC | Kodiaks 3 vs UAA Vikings 1

The Kodiaks put together an excellent opening half on their home pitch, controlling possession and creating offensive pressure against the University of Alberta-Augustana. Megan Morrison (fifth year, Bachelor of Nursing, Medicine Hat) opened the scoring midway through the half, finishing a well-built play assisted by Hannah Bradford (second year, General Arts and Science, Abbotsford, B.C.) to give Lethbridge the early edge. The Kodiaks continued to dictate the tempo, limiting Augustana's scoring chances while generating multiple looks on goal. Before the break, Samantha Demchuk (fifth year, Bachelor of Nursing, Whitehorse, Y.T.) added a second marker, capitalizing on a loose ball inside the box to send Lethbridge into halftime up 2–0.

Lethbridge Polytechnic maintained their momentum in the second half, continuing to push forward with balanced play across the field. Sophie DeMarsh (second year, Criminal Justice - Corrections, Calgary) extended the lead to 3–0 early in the frame, finishing a setup from Alexa Evis (fourth year, Massage Therapy, Worcester, England) to all but seal the victory. The Kodiaks' back line, anchored by goalkeeper Paityn Lake (first year, Business Administration – Accounting, Nelson, B.C.), stayed composed and absorbed pressure late in the match, conceding only a single goal in the final minute of play. The Kodiaks closed out a strong 3–1 win going into championships next weekend.

ACAC Players of the Game:

LPK: #18 Samantha Demchuk
SAIT: #19 Sophie Robertson

Oct. 18 MSOC | Kodiaks 0 at SAIT Trojans 7

The Kodiaks men's soccer team faced a tough challenge on the road against a strong SAIT squad, battling to find their footing in a high-tempo opening half. Despite some sustained defensive pressure, goalkeeper Adam Krisko (second year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) made several key stops to keep Lethbridge in the game, turning away multiple quality chances. The Kodiaks worked hard to transition through the midfield, with Dante Dudas (second year, General Arts and Science – Psychology and Sociology, Lethbridge) and Emiliano Garcia Velarde (second year, Agriculture Sciences – Animal Science, Saltillo, Mexico) generating a few looks toward goal, but they ultimately went into halftime trailing and searching for a spark to shift momentum.

Lethbridge Polytechnic came out determined in the second half, tightening its defensive shape and showing composure under continued pressure. Krisko continued to anchor the back line with several strong saves, while the Kodiaks battled to the final whistle, but the match ended in a 7–0 result for SAIT.

ACAC Players of the Game:

LPK: #9 Alex Moroszczuk
SAIT: #25 Grant Johnson