The Lethbridge College Kodiaks volleyball season begins this weekend. For the women’s team, this season is about redemption. On the men’s side, the Kodiaks have their sights set firmly on a championship.
The Kodiaks men’s team is coming off the best season in program history, as the club went 22-2, finishing first in the ACAC south division and winning an ACAC silver medal. This season, the Kodiaks return the bulk of the roster that earned the first conference medal in program history, and have a built-in advantage as the team is guaranteed a playoff spot as hosts of February’s 2019-20 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship.
While the team lost the services of ACAC all-conference team selections Dax Whitehead and Matt Primrose, the rest of the Kodiaks starters are returning this season, including all-stars Carter Hansen and Michael Hummel. The experience of the returning core alone will be enough to keep the Kodiaks in contention for an ACAC championship, while the emergence of talented sophomore and freshmen classes could be enough to push them over the edge.
“We want to put a banner in that gym,” says men’s head coach Greg Gibos. “We don't hide it, it's something we're striving for. It's not putting extra pressure on ourselves because we've gotten so close to where we want to be. Now we want to take that final step and bring that banner home for Lethbridge.”
The Kodiaks women’s team ended a decade-long playoff drought two seasons ago, but took a step back with a 4-20 campaign last season that saw them miss the playoffs.
However, head coach Anna Schwark says the culture around the team is strong and that the players have already shown a renewed commitment during the preseason. Led by setter Jamie Brown and left side hitter Mack Lewicki, the Kodiaks plan to play a more tenacious style, focused on fighting to keep balls alive and moving the offense along more quickly.
“Creating a positive culture was where we turned our efforts last season, and I think it worked,” says Schwark. “The players who are returning from last year are just pushing it even harder to teach the new players coming in that this is what we expect, this is how you want to work, and this is how we treat each other.”
The Kodiaks open the ACAC season with a home-and-home series against SAIT this weekend. The Kodiaks open the season by hosting SAIT on Friday evening, with the women’s game at 6 p.m., followed by the men’s contest at 8 p.m. The teams then play at the same times at SAIT on Saturday.
Friday is Junior and Senior High School appreciation night, so admission is free to all junior and senior high school students, while they can also enjoy free food and the chance to win prizes. Admission is free to students with Lethbridge College ID cards; $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, youth and alumni; and $4 for college employees and students with University of Lethbridge ID cards.
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.
HEAD COACH:
Greg Gibos (fourth season)
ASSISTANT COACHES:
Matt Hemmerling, Matt Herman
2018-19 REGULAR SEASON:
22-2, 44 points, first in ACAC south division, tied for first in ACAC
2018-19 LEADERS:
Kills: Carter Hansen (366)*, Dax Whitehead (228), Tony Albizzati (146)
Digs: Matt Primrose (230)*, Dax Whitehead (187), Tony Albizzati (181)
Assists: Zach Wikenheiser (707)*
*second in ACAC south division
2019 PLAYOFFS:
Beat The King’s University 3-0 in quarterfinal
Beat SAIT 3-2 in semifinal
Lost to Keyano 3-0 in gold medal game
ACAC silver medalists
DID YOU KNOW?
Carter Hansen enters the season with 1053 kills, fourth all-time in ACAC history, just 114 kills behind
former teammate Dax Whitehead for the all-time ACAC lead.
KEY RETURNEES:
Carter Hansen (fifth year, right side hitter, General Studies, Magrath)
Zach Wikenheiser (fourth year, setter, General Studies, Lethbridge)
Michael Hummel (fifth year, left side hitter, General Studies, Picture Butte)
Tony Albizzati (fourth year, left side hitter, General Studies, Lethbridge)
KEY ADDITIONS:
Nolan Moes (first year, left side hitter, Renewable Resource Management, Barrhead)
Nash Shipton (first year, setter, General Studies, Coaldale)
Jackson Gaehring (first year, right side hitter, Civil Engineering Technology, Lethbridge)
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Quinn Buchanan (second year, middle, General Studies, Lethbridge)
A local product who played sparingly as a freshman, Buchanan is set to take a leap as a sophomore
– literally, as the 6’3” middle can now touch 11’6” in vertical testing. His emergence in the middle
allows the Kodiaks to move ACAC all-star Michael Hummel back to his natural position on the left
side.
SEASON OUTLOOK:
The Kodiaks are coming off the most successful season in program history as the team went 22-2
and earned an ACAC silver medal. While they lost ACAC all-conference team selections Dax
Whitehead and Matt Primrose, the Kodiaks return the rest of their roster including all-stars Carter
Hansen and Michael Hummel. The team will host February’s ACAC championships and should be in
contention for a conference title on their home floor.
COACH IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“We have the confidence that this program knows how to win. We've gotten over little humps over the
last couple of years and now we're looking forward to the bigger hump. We have confidence in each
other, in the program and in the guys who are coming in, and we believe we can be successful when
it matters most.”
– Greg Gibos
LISTEN:
Greg Gibos discusses the upcoming Kodiaks men's volleyball season
HEAD COACH:
Anna Schwark (fourth season)
ASSISTANT COACHES:
Steve Ivan, Laura Serafini
2018-19 REGULAR SEASON:
4-20, 8 points, sixth in ACAC south division
2018-19 LEADERS:
Kills: Laura Serafini (147), Mackenzie Lewicki (125), Carly Doneff (78)
Digs: Mackenzie Lewicki (188), Jamie Brown (179), Carmen Nadeau (162)
Assists: Jamie Brown (531)
2019 PLAYOFFS:
Missed playoffs
DID YOU KNOW?
Jamie Brown’s 531 assists last season were the second-highest single-season total recorded by a
Kodiaks player since the stat first started being tracked in 2014-15.
KEY RETURNEES:
Jamie Brown (third year, setter, Natural Resource Compliance, Fort Macleod)
Maile Funa (second year, middle, Massage Therapy, Lethbridge)
Mack Lewicki (third year, left side hitter, General Studies, Taber)
KEY ADDITIONS:
Kylie Morrison (first year, left side hitter, Child and Youth Care, St. Albert)
Reegan Molenaar (first year, right side hitter, Agriculture Sciences, Picture Butte)
Elyse Doble (first year, libero, General Studies, Lyalta, Alta.)
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Jamie Brown (third year, setter, Natural Resource Compliance, Fort Macleod)
In her first year as the Kodiaks starting setter, Brown was at the heart of the offense, finishing sixth in
the ACAC with 531 assists. Throughout training camp, she has taken on more of a leadership role,
as her competitiveness pushes the rest of the team in practices and games. Her up-tempo style of
play allows the offense to run faster, which gives the Kodiaks more options on the attack.
SEASON OUTLOOK:
Two seasons ago, the Kodiaks shocked the ACAC by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in 10
years. While they took a step back last season, winning just four times, the team put some pieces in
place that head coach Anna Schwark hopes will allow the team to begin climbing back up the
standings. The preseason has shown that the Kodiaks will bring more confidence and intensity to the
court this season, fighting harder in pursuit of the ball, while the skill level has also increased.
COACH IN HER OWN WORDS:
“Despite our record, last season was one of my best seasons with the Kodiaks. The players really
created and projected the culture of the program, which is what I really want. Of course, we want to
win, but I think we understood that it wasn't our year and we worked extra hard to make sure
everybody still showed up, did their part and created something positive. The returning players still
have that mindset and I think I think it has translated into our gameplay so far, really nicely.”
– Anna Schwark
LISTEN:
Anna Schwark discusses the upcoming Kodiaks men's volleyball season