Kodiaks basketball, volleyball get ready for the Rattlers

By Lethbridge Herald on November 19, 2021.

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball teams get ready for a Highway 3 rivalry with the Medcine Hat Rattlers in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conferece play this weekend.

That starts tonight when the Kodiaks volleyball teams welcome the Rattlers to the Val Matteotti Gymnasium, while the basketball teams head down the road to Medicine Hat.

The sports then swap locations Saturday as the Kodiaks basketball team takes over the Val Matteotti Gymnasium, while the volleyball team goes to the Rattlers’ den.

Tonight, the men’s volleyball team is at 6 p.m. with the women to follow at 8 p.m.

Both teams are coming off 0-2 ACAC opening weekends against the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens.

On the men’s side, rookie Cameron Piers is coming off an impressive debut weekend where he earned the Kodiaks player of the game on Friday, while Jackson Gaehring was named player of the game on Sunday after pounding 13 kills and seven digs.

Libero Malcolm Fisher is currently third in the conference with 16 digs.

The Kodiaks women will also look to rebound after two hard fought losses to Red Deer last weekend. The team pushed the Queens to the brink in a pair of sets.

Kodiaks veteran Jamie Brown is coming off a strong weekend where she had 17 kills and had three service aces, while Eryka Woods had an impressive debut weekend, earning player of the game on Friday while delivering six kills and a .462 kill percentage.

Mack Lewicki had 10 kills and 10 digs last Sunday, a performance that earned her player of the game honours.

The Kodiaks men’s basketball team dropped their season opener last Friday in Red Deer, but tightened up defensively to earn its first win on Sunday. The Kodiaks averaged 11 steals per game.

Veteran guard Orin Porter Jr. averaged 23 points per game.

Rookie Paycen Blackmore answered with 21 points off the bench on Sunday while also grabbing six boards.

On the women’s side, the Kodiaks earned a win in their season opener on last Friday in Red Deer before dropping a hard-fought rematch on Sunday.

The Kodiaks rank third in the ACAC in total points and second in total three-pointers made.

Kirsten Barwegen and Courtney Deemter carried the Kodiaks offense during the opening weekend. Both players scored 22 points in the win on Friday and currently rank in the top-five in ACAC scoring per game. Montana Berezay leads the conference in total three-pointers made with seven.

Fans attending this weekend’s games will be required to present proof of vaccination or a negative PCR or rapid test result, as well as valid I.D., before entry into the gym.

Wearing a mask is mandatory at all times inside the gymnasium. Tickets are available at the door and are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, youth and alumni, $4 for college employees and free for students.

Follow @@DWoodardHerald on Twitter