Lakeland Rustlers Weekend Recap - Nov 6, 2023
Rustlers athletics enjoyed another successful weekend out on the court.
Rustlers Volleyball
The women's and men's volleyball teams headed south to face the Briercrest Clippers and Medicine Hat Rattlers. Austin Dyer's squad was looking to bounce back from their first loss since 2022, while the men were riding a four-match winning streak.
Night one in Caranport, the women's team held off a feisty Clippers squad playing with plenty of energy in front of an even more feisty home crowd. Scores in the 3-1 victory were 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23. Lana Matthews led the Rustlers with 9 kills, 9 digs, 4 blocks and a service ace.
Saturday, Lakeland rolled through Medicine Hat, sweeping the Rattlers 25-15, 25-14, 25-15. Matthews had another big night, with 13 kills, 4 aces, 4 digs and 1 block, while Avery Bates also had 12 kills. The two victories improves the Rustlers to 5-1 so far this year.
On the men's side, they were on the opposite of a four-set match Friday night against the defending champion Clippers. Set scores were 12-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-25. Brock Tomyn continued his strong start to the season, with 12 kills, 3 aces and 4 digs.
In Medicine Hat, the men also won in three sets, but at a more competitive 25-13, 25-19, 25-22. Tomyn had another big night, posting 12 kills, 4 aces, 5 digs and 1 block, while Gabe Bjorkas added 8 kills, 3 aces and 4 digs. The Rustlers now sit at 5-1, good for second in the North Division.
Rustlers Basketball
Lakeland's basketball teams hosted Briercrest, the bronze medal winners from last season. The Rustlers were dominant from jump ball, building to a 16-3 lead in the opening quarter and never letting the game get closer than 10 points in a 75-59 win. Susan Ayaa was Player of the Game with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals.
The following evening against the Rattlers was a blowout. Lakeland lead 46-17 at the half, eventually winning 88-45. Alana Olson had a big night, scoring 17 points and adding 13 rebounds and 4 assists. The Rustlers remain undefeated, with the closest margin being Friday's 16 point gap.
If the women's results were inevitable, then the men's games coming down to the dying seconds of the contest are also becoming inevitable. On Friday, the Clippers gained an early lead in the 1st Quarter and entered the final frame up 74-67 on the Rustlers. However, Sheray Thomas' team caught fire in the 4th, earned big stops and outscored Briercrest 24-14, getting a big 3-pointer from Favour Ugbah to go up four and win 91-88. Abdul Al-Tamimi scored 17 of his 21 points in the final quarter, while Chance Samuel added 19 points.
Against the Rattlers, Lakeland had a better start, leading by four points after the first half, before a rough 3rd quarter saw them give up 30 points and trail by nine heading into the 4th. There, this comeback-crazy squad scored 31 points of their own, trading buckets in the final minutes to finish with a 95-93 victory. Al-Tamimi had 25 points, Samuel had 18 and Andre McFadden added 19 off the bench.
The men have now won four straight to improve to 4-2.
What's Coming Up
Volleyball has the weekend off, while basketball hosts the Augustana Vikings Friday evening on Military appreciation night, where military members (retired and current) will get in for free.
Women's hockey is back on the ice and will face the NAIT Ooks twice, Friday night at the Russ Robertson Arena and Saturday in Edmonton.