Tristan Iwanczuk(l) covers Ben Dyck(r) during a scrimmage in preparation for a game against Concordia
Thunder earlier this semester. Photo by Eric Allan.
The Lethbridge Polytechnic volleyball season has arrived with new challenges of new leaders and fresh faces.
Kodiaks men’s volleyball is facing a growth hurdle with a young team. During the off- season, the Kodiaks attained six first-year athletes.
Ben Dyck, third-year left side hitter, says being a younger team does come with added complexity.
“Benny and I being the only ones to return to the starting lineup makes us leaders. It also adds a bit more pressure to perform on the offensive end.”
Dyck played 66 sets in 19 matches last season. Ben Dyck and Ben St. Pierre, a fifth-year setter, will be the only ones remaining from last year’s starting lineup. Five players from the previous year’s starting lineup have either graduated or transferred schools.
The most notable is Ethan Nashim, a right side hitter, signing a professional contract to play volleyball in Klagenfurt, Austria.
One of the biggest losses the team will have to adjust to is the void of Nolan Moes, former captain and ace. With 234 kills in 18 matches played, Moes lead his team all to success all season and was a key to many of their victories.
Although losing some of your most experienced athletes to graduation or transfers is challenging, it also creates opportunity. Greg Gibos, head coach, is excited for some of their up-and-comers to see more court time.
“You’ve got guys who’ve been role players for the last couple of years and now it’s their chance to kind of flourish.”
Last season the Kodiaks had a record of 17 wins and two losses. They went to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference finals and lost to Red Deer Polytechnic, after a hard fought post-season run. This new line of skilled athletes will be this year’s face of the Kodiaks and will be the ones to carry out the legacy of last year’s success.
The Kodiaks have started their season off right with a commanding 3-0 set victory over the Concordia Thunder, on Oct 18. They look to repeat this with a home game on Oct. 31 against The King’s University Eagles. This will be the next test for their fresh starting line-up.
For more information on the men’s volleyball team this season visit gokodiaks.ca.
