Kodiaks ready to make some noise for mental health starting Jan. 28h

Elyse Doble (Kodiaks' women's volleyball)

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks basketball and volleyball teams are set for a home-and-home series with the Ambrose University Lions this weekend.

Kodiaks volleyball will kick things off at home on Friday night (Jan. 28), then head to Calgary for a rematch on Saturday. Meanwhile, Kodiaks basketball visits Ambrose on Friday before welcoming the Lions to Val Matteotti Gymnasium on Saturday. 

The Kodiaks will host the annual Make Some Noise for Mental Health (MSN) nights at both home games, presented in partnership with the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) and RBC. The campaign aims to promote mental health awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental health concerns. The Kodiaks will look to further the conversation by delivering mental health information to fans both inside the gymnasium and through social media.

Fans will be permitted to attend Kodiaks homes games this weekend. Restrictions remain in place, including limited capacity and a masking policy that will be strictly enforced. No food or drink will be allowed inside the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.

The Kodiaks men’s and women’s basketball teams are riding win streaks after completing a two-game sweep of Briercrest last weekend. Kodiaks men’s volleyball will look to get on a roll after splitting a road series with Briercrest. The Kodiaks women’s volleyball team had its matches postponed last weekend and will return to play looking to add to its five-game win streak. 

Match start times will also change across the ACAC this weekend. The women will now play the early game, with the men to follow.

Basketball

WOMEN’S

Kodiaks (8-1) vs Ambrose University Lions (2-6) 

• 6 p.m. Friday at Ambrose
• 6 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

The Kodiaks took over first place in the ACAC south division after an impressive two-game sweep of the Briercrest Clippers last weekend. The team has now won seven games in a row and will look to extend their streak against the Lions. 

Kirsten Barwegen (fourth year, Open Studies, Lethbridge) was an honorable mention for ACAC Athlete of the Week after scoring 46 points over two games last weekend. Rookie Courtney Deemter (first year, Nursing, Calgary) is fourth in conference scoring, averaging 19 PPG. Matlin Jacobs (fourth year, Open Studies, Cardston) was named the Kodiaks player of the game on Saturday after a 17-point performance.

Scouting the opposition: After opening the season with two victories, the Lions have stumbled through a six-game losing skid and will be desperate to get back into the playoff picture. Paige Goertzen leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.7 PPG. 

MEN’S

Kodiaks (7-2) vs Ambrose University Lions (2-6) 

• 8 p.m. Friday at Ambrose
• 8 p.m. Saturday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium

With a pair of wins against Briercrest last weekend, the Kodiaks entered a three-way tie with SAIT and St. Mary’s for first in the ACAC south division. The team’s defence delivered its best performances of the season, holding the Clippers to under 60-points in both games.

Veteran guard Orin Porter Jr. (fifth year, Computer Information Technology, Nevada) continues to lead the offence by averaging 17.3 points per game. Jack-Henry Fox-Grey (second year, General Studies, Lethbridge) was named a Kodiaks athlete of the week after putting up a season high 19-points on Saturday.

Scouting the opposition: Despite their place in the standings, Ambrose has played opponents tight this season – including grabbing wins over Briercrest and SAIT. The Lions have proven to be tough on the glass, sitting third in the conference in total rebounds per game.

Volleyball

WOMEN’S

Kodiaks (5-2) vs Ambrose University Lions (5-5) 

• 6 p.m. Friday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium
• 6 p.m. Saturday at Ambrose

After having their matches postponed last weekend, the Kodiaks women will be eager to get back on the court and try to extend their five-game winning streak. Lethbridge is in a three-way tie with Briercrest and Ambrose for second in the ACAC south division, so this weekend’s series will be an important matchup with playoff implications. 

Jamie Brown (fourth year, Exercise Science, Fort Macleod) is fourth in the ACAC with 3.90 kills per set. Setter Johanna Dixon (second year, General Studies, Calgary) is averaging 8.17 assists per set, fifth most in the conference. 

Scouting the opposition: Ambrose is led by Madeline Williscroft, who is top-five in the conference in both kills per set and hitting percentage. 

MEN’S

Kodiaks (5-3) vs Ambrose University Lions (2-7) 

• 8 p.m. Friday at Val Matteotti Gymnasium
• 8 p.m. Saturday at Ambrose

The Kodiaks men are eager to bounce back after a disappointing 3-2 loss to Briercrest last Saturday. Lethbridge is fourth in the ACAC south division and will look to climb the ladder with a good performance this weekend.    

Jackson Gaehring (second year, Civil Engineering Technology, Lethbridge) was the Kodiaks player of the game in their win on Friday, delivering 13 kills and four digs. Nolan Moes (second year, Renewable Resource Management, Barrhead) took the honors in Saturday’s defeat, driving home 15 kills and an impressive six service aces.

Scouting the opposition: Ambrose setter Emmitt Juul-Hansen is second in the conference with 9.27 assists per set. The team is coming off a 3-0 win over Medicine Hat last Wednesday.

ACACTV partners with Telus Optik TV  – The ACAC is excited to announce a new partnership with Telus Optik TV. All conference games available on ACACTV will now also be televised on Telus Optik TV (Channel 1998). Fans can continue to watch the Kodiaks on ACACTV Pay Per View.

Jr. & Sr. High Appreciation Night Returns  – The Kodiaks are partnering with the Lethbridge College recruitment office to present Jr. & Sr. High Appreciation Night at Saturday’s home basketball games. All local area high school students (and their chaperones) will receive free admission to the games, with prizes including Kodiaks summer camp vouchers available to be won throughout the evening. 

Learn more about the Kodiaks at gokodiaks.ca and follow along all season on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. High-quality photos are available to download from the Kodiaks Flickr account.

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