With the Kodiaks volleyball season for both the men’s and women’s teams having just been completed, it is time to get some perspective on how both teams did.
For the men, the season brought with it many different scenarios, but in the ultra competitive ACAC, the Kodiaks ended its season with a 11-9 record.
“We ended up finishing fifth in the ACAC, which is actually the equivalent to the best ever finish a Lethbridge College men’s volleyball team has ever had in the current ACAC,” says second-year setter Graham Czibere.
One particular highlight for Czibere was the impact that volleyball has had on the region of Lethbridge and the number of fans that came to see the Kodiaks play.
“Southern Alberta has, for the most part, been a basketball market, so seeing the number of people that came out and really appreciated volleyball and saw that we had a good product here was pretty exciting.”
As for what the future holds for the Kodiaks men’s team, Czibere says that going forward, the team will be as strong as ever.
“Last year we went 11-9, this year we went 11-9 and finished better in provincials than we did last year and I can only see the team getting better.”
For the women’s team, it finished the season with a 9-11 record, losing to Medicine Hat in the qualification weekend for provincials.
“We were an inexperienced team this year with 10 rookies and I think we even surprised ourselves by finishing with a 9-11 record,” says first-year setter Erika Sheen.
Having a lot of rookies on this year’s team means that Sheen, along with the majority of her teammates, will be back next year.
“I definitely think we have so much potential next year and if everything goes like it should with us, we have a very good shot at being very successful next year at provincials.”
Sheen also makes a special mention of how well the team interacted with one another and the anticipation of next year’s squad.
“We all bonded so much that I could honestly say that these girls became my second family. So to be able to bond like we did this year, I cannot wait to see what next year holds for us.”
The men’s team will be having at least six new faces on its team next year as Glen Lengyel, Jordan Close, Graham Czibere, Brent Fikowski, Andy Hemmerling and Craig Schatz won’t be returning.
Tianna Harland is the lone member of the women’s team who will not be back next year.