That's a Wrap - Rustlers Men's Volleyball
Lakeland College Athletics enjoyed a season for the ages. Over the next week, we will be sharing a recap of each team's second semester finish.
Results
Men's volleyball had the single best ACAC campaign in program history.
After several years of becoming one of the most stable, competitive men's teams in the conference, the squad finally broke through in 2023-2024. They were nationally ranked for the first time, reaching as high as 12th, finishing the regular season at 13-6, good for third in the ACAC North. At the elite eight tournament, they won the quarterfinal match for the first time, sweeping the defending champion Briercrest Clippers. Following this achievement, they lost narrowly to the Keyano Huskies and RDP Kings in five sets to finish 4th.
Highlights
The Rustlers went 9-1 at home this season, including six straight from late November on. January, they faced the eventual CCAA Champion NAIT Ooks on Club Volleyball Night, winning in four sets.
Setter Keifer Sinclair and third year libero Jake Willick both earned All-Conference selections to the North Division Team (Willick's second selection), while Dyer was named North Coach of the Year for the first time.
Outside Gabriel Brinchmann Bjorkas was named to the ACAC Tournament squad, in large part to his spectacular serving performance.
Statistics
Willick lead the ACAC in digs per set (3.25), while Brock Tomyn and Bjorkas were 5th and 6th in aces per set and Sinclair was 5th in assists per set.
Summer Outlook
Willick finishes his program this spring and setter Tristan Hiemstra is transferring, but the rest of the roster returns for next season.
Coaches Stamp
Taylor Dyer, Men's Volleyball
"It's another first, being on the championship side, a step forward of where we want to go. With a good majority of the guys returning next year, it's a great experience to move forward with."