Lakeland Rustlers Weekend Recap - November 5 2024
The Lakeland Rustler had a couple of losses, but another very successful weekend.
All four basketball and volleyball teams were ranked nationally heading into action on Friday, but both men's teams were facing solid south division competition in the RDP Kings and the Olds Broncos. The women's teams were heavily favoured in those same matchups on the court, while women's hockey had another tilt with the Broncos and their first meeting with the NAIT Oooks since they lost to their rival in the ACAC Finals back in March.
Rustlers Volleyball
On the road, women's volleyball kicked things off with a 3-0 sweep of the RDP Queens (25-12, 25-12, 26-24). Avery Bates had a huge match on the right-side, posting 19 kills and 2 blocks, while Carly Hawryluk had 6 kills on just 9 attempts and Jenay Varga had 11 digs. The following night in Olds, Coach Dyer went to his bench in another sweep (25-20, 25-21, 25-16), getting a 12 kill outing from Hawryluk. Bates added 9 kills and two more blocks, while sophomore setter Katelyn Mazurkewhich had 19 assists in her first start.
The men had a tougher time in Red Deer, losing in straight sets (19-25, 20-25, 19-25). Aiden Maier had 13 kills in his first start of the season on the right-side. Saturday was a bounce-back victory over the Broncos in four sets, with Gabriel Bjorkas putting up an impressive stat line of 25 kills, 4 aces and 1 block.
Rustlers Basketball
Basketball hosted the RDP Queens and Kings on Friday, which was Lakeland College's annual Halloween costume night. The women started off with another blowout victory, this time by a score of 81-50. Missy Nuku lead all players with 20 points and 10 assists, while Susan Ayaa added 18 points and 5 rebounds and Caitlin Shillabeer had 10 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. Saturday tonight's contest against Olds was the team's largest margin of victory yet this season, 86-33 over the Broncos. Shillabeer, Andria Stitt, Nuku and Ayaa were all in double digits. This extends the program's undefeated streak to 30 games.
Friday's men's game was an exciting, but disappointing contest for Rustler Nation, as Lakeland battled inconsistent play and were on the wrong side of a non-call in the dying seconds of the 4th Quarter in a 95-93 loss. Chance Samuel led the team in scoring with 20 points. Like their volleyball school mates, the squad bounced back on Saturday, winning 82-54 over the Broncos, with Allayasa Bray leading the team with 24 points.
Rustlers Hockey
Women's hockey held their third straight home game against Olds, a 7-0 romp that was most notable for an on-ice brawl between the two teams. Several players had multi-point games, including Keyra Buziak with 2 goals and an assist, while Shaye Thompson got the shutout and the W. Saturday's Finals rematch was tightly fought game, with Brooklyn Salewski getting the lone goal midway through the second period. Janae Neufeld made 31 saves for the shutout.
What's Coming Up
A bye week will give women's hockey some rest before they go for their eight straight victory at home on Nov. 15.
Basketball is on the road for a key South Division trip against St. Mary's Lightning on Friday and Ambrose Lions on Saturday.
Meanwhile, volleyball has one home event Saturday night against the Lions, which will be our military appreciation night, where all current and former military members will get for $2 each, as well as their family members.