Lakeland Rustlers Halfway Report: Men's Volleyball
1st Half Record:
7-2 | 2nd in the ACAC North Division
Key Performers:
Brock Tomyn | 3 Kills/S, 28 Aces, 1.52 Digs/S | Team leader in kills and aces, league leader in aces
Kiefer Sinclair | 7.73 Assists/S, 17 Aces, 1.42 Digs/S | 4th and 7th in the ACAC in assists and aces.
Senior Graduates:
None
Highlights:
Nov. 2, a road victory over the Olds Broncos. Following a 3-0 loss to the RDP Kings, the Rustlers needed a strong bounce back the following evening. Facing a key South Division rival, they were able to outlast the Broncos 33-31, 31-33, 31-29, 25-14 to pick up their third win of the semester. Lefty outside Gabriel Bjorkas had 22 kills, 4 aces, 5 digs and a block in the victory.
Recap:
The journey towards hosting the ACAC Championship has featured plenty of positives so far for men's volleyball.
Aside from road losses to nationally ranked Red Deer and Lethbridge, the Rustlers have performed consistently each weekend, never allowing the rest of their opponents to force a 5th set. Currently Lakeland leads the league in aces per set, putting tremendous pressure on opposing receivers, while also sitting fourth in points per set at 14.7. Coach Taylor Dyer has also utilized players off the bench more than last year, a luxury that could prove critical in important matches down the stretch.
Over the break, men's volleyball journeyed to Mexico and completed a week of training while there.
Looking Ahead:
The Rustlers open their second half on Jan. 17, facing the Concordia Thunder. Critical dates include Jan. 24-25, where they will battle the Keyano Huskies for first in the North Division, and Feb. 14-15, when they end regular season play against the NAIT Ooks. Then, Lakeland will host the Championship Feb. 20-22, with the Rustlers enjoying a huge advantage on homecourt.