Execution key in Kodiaks playoff prep

By Lethbridge Herald on February 11, 2025.

Herald File photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Herald FILE photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks Nolan Moes attempts a hit over the NAIT Ooks defenders of Finn Howard, left, and Mason Gorski during ACAC men’s Volleyball action this past season.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks men’s volleyball have been rolling this season, so much so that they have a 15-2 record with two games to go in the regular season and have already started making tweaks in hopes of coming home with the banner at next week’s ACAC championships at Lakeland.

“Right now it’s less skill development and more execution-based drills ,” said Kodiaks head coach Greg Gibos.

“So when you come and watch a practice or we’re looking at how we’re structuring the week and what it looks like right now, it’s primarily execution. We (have) got to be executing all of our skills to the best of our ability. There might be a couple tweaks here and there for some of the athletes from a technical side.”

Gibos spoke about the importance of execution in their strategy.

“For us, from a strategy standpoint, it’s really executing first contact as always and making sure our offence is fine-tuned and we’ve been really intentional with team defence over the last five weeks,” said Gibos.

Fourth-year Ethan Nashim said everything’s gonna be a little more situational.

“We’re gonna prepare for key match ups,” said Nashim.

“When it comes to individual things, we’re kind of past that point now. So it’s more so getting  out there and having quality reps day in and day out.”

Nashim spoke about the mindset of the team.

“The mindset (of) this team that is we can do everything,” said Nashim.

“Right now we have once again the confidence in every single person around us from … top guys on the floor to the 21st guy on the bench.”

The team is treating these last two regular games as playoff games as they will face a hungry Briercrest team who will be fighting to get into playoffs.

“We want to match their energy, we want to be able to play what we consider our style of volleyball and play our best match of the year come Friday night,” said Gibos.

The Kodiaks were able to clinch their spot in the championships earlier this month.

“Goal one is always to qualify for championships and give yourself a chance to be at the dance and we were able to do that last weekend and that’s something to celebrate,” said Gibos.

“There’s a lotta great athletes that play within programs, and within schools and institutions for five years and don’t get the opportunity to play in an ACAC championship. So it’s not lost on our group, we know how hard it is to qualify, we’re excited to go, we’re excited to represent ourselves and now it’s all about trying to get ready for that one weekend.”