Rustlers Claim Third Consecutive National Title
It's hard to top two years of complete dominance, with only two match losses on the resume, but that's what the Lakeland Rustlers have done in women's volleyball.
The team completed the unique accomplishment of three straight national championship victories, with the latest coming in an undefeated season. Lakeland went a perfect 25-0, losing just four sets in the process, and only facing one match where the threat of a fourth set was real.
Head Coach Austin Dyer, who has overseen the entirety of this run of success for the program, was effusive in his praise for his players after a season for the record books.
"We didn't lose a match in exhibition league or playoffs," he noted. "The work ethic of my team does not go unnoticed and then when you combine that with the poise and ability to execute under pressure, allowed this season to happen."
Combining the records of the three-peat, Lakeland College women's volleyball has won 73 of 75 matches and 222 of 236 sets. They have also not lost a set at home since February 10, 2022.
Sharp as ever
After winning the ACAC championship in Camrose less than two weeks prior, the Rustlers came into the CCAA tournament as the heaviest favourite CCAA volleyball has seen in more than a decade. Every practice leading up to the championship featured quality execution at the net and at the baseline.
Playing undefeated was a unique challenge, where they began to feel some pressure to keep the streak alive during the season. This was lessened somewhat after they dropped a set in their final regular season match against NAIT.
What helped the group was remaining focused on the process they set out for themselves in August. Jenay Varga, the team's longest standing veteran and 2023 Championship MVP, was asked how she was experiencing her final season earlier in the semester and her answer captured the mindset of the squad's effort to stay focused and still enjoy themselves.
"Because it's in the back of my mind that this the last one, I'm trying to make sure I have as much fun as possible," Varga said.
Awards recognition occurred again, with ACAC MVP Avery Bates being named an All-Canadian and Coach Dyer receiving his second CCAA Coach of the Year Award. This was the third straight year the team had a player selected nationally, following Jana Laing last year and Varga in 2023. It's also the second time in two years the program has seen a player named North Division Player of the Year, following Varga in 2023.
Their most memorable, challenging championship yet
The Rustlers opened their tournament with a quick quarterfinal against the host Durham Lords, winning 25-13, 25-11, 25-14. Bates had a team high 11 kills, along with an ace and 2 blocks, while Matthews had 9 kills with no errors and 3 blocks to win Player of the Game honours.
The semifinal matchup was the RSEQ winners, the Élans De Garneau, another 3-0 victory for Lakeland (25-20, 25-18, 25-10). Seanna Trumier was the Player of the Game with a match high 15 digs, while Matthews added another 10 kills.
The semifinal sweep earned the women's squad a day off, before their gold medal showdown against the Ontario champion Humber Hawks. This was the second time in three years the two schools would meet in the final four, after Lakeland defeated the Hawks 3-1 in the 2023 semifinals.
Early on, the difference in structure and the style between the two teams was apparent, with Humber relying on tremendous size and athleticism, while the Rustlers focused on speed and ball control. Several members of the Rustlers noted this experience at nationals pushed them competitively a lot more than the previous two years.
"This year's opponents were ultimately tougher to play," Bates said. Especially Humber, because of their size."
Despite the Hawks managing to slow down Bates, Lakeland received plenty of offence on the left side from Varga and Matthews to keep pace and backup setter Katelyn Mazurkewich provided a timely service ace to put them ahead 17-14, enroute to a 25-20 first set win.
In the second, the Rustlers took advantage of Humber errors to go up by as much as 18-12, before a key serving run brought the Hawks back to within a point. Then, with the score 20-19 Lakeland, a tight set resulted in Bates landing on the foot of the opposing blocker. Despite the Rustlers protests, the point was awarded to Humber and Lakeland had to play the rest of the match without their All Canadian and right-side. Initially the team responded with a small run, but some untimely late errors resulted, with the Hawks tying the match at 1 with a 27-25 win.
Faced with a situation they had not faced in three years, with a key starter sidelined, the women had to move forward with Carly Hawryluk filling the void left by Bates. Several great stretches of serving, blocking and defence put the Rustlers up 22-13, leading to a 25-16 victory in the third.
"We take a lot of pride in being the best all around 'team'," Dyer said. "For this to happen, your second side and role players have to be able to compete at a certain level. This was very evident in the final."
"I think that set was a write-off, because we did not play well," Bates said. "But when I went down and Carly came in, she absolutely lit it up, so I don't think anyone was worried."
In the fourth set, the Hawks continued to play hard, but the Rustlers relentless pressure resulted in another early lead, peaking at 22-16. While Humber slowly closed the gap to as close as two points, it wasn't enough, when a backrow swing from Hawryluk (her 12th kill) ended the set and match at 25-22.
"[Carly] was incredible in the gold medal match and a huge reason why we won," Dyer said.
Letkeman finished her final collegiate match with 40 assists, 1 ace, 8 digs, 1 block and 4 kills and Matthews posted 12 kills, 3 aces, 10 digs and 2 blocks. The third graduate, Varga, had one final standout performance, leading the team with 14 kills and 19 digs.
"There is no better way for Jenay, Lana and Emma to finish off their careers," Dyer said. "They all played a huge part in our success this season."
Specific praise was given to Varga, who leaves as the last remnant of the women's volleyball program prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. She ends her collegiate career as one of or the outright leader in almost every statistical category for Lakeland, as well as one of the great ACAC left-sides in history. After an MVP campaign in 2023, she overcame a bad back that kept her out almost an entire semester to coming back and being a key contributor in 2024. During the final in Durham, she was playing at that MVP level again.
"Jenay has been the glue to our team's success over the last four years," Dyer said. "A lot of what she does goes unnoticed, but I can confidently say she has been the best all around college player in the country the last three years."
In the aftermath, the Rustlers were acknowledged four tournament all-stars. Bates and Letkeman were named to the Second All-Tournament Team, Varga to the First Team, while Matthews was the MVP, compiling 31 kills, 6 aces, 21 digs, and 6 blocks in 10 sets.
"It was really cool to see Lana get that recognition, when she's been one of the stars, but hasn't won an MVP during this run of success the last few years," Assistant Coach Matt Peck said.
What comes next?
Now that the three-peat is complete and the team's three fifth year players can call themselves alumni, the Rustlers prepare for new challenges in 2025-2026. Matthews and Varga are both pursuing competing at the professional level, while most of the players are already training in the gym for another run at a title, which would be the final years of eligibility for Bates, Trumier and middle blocker Emma Jeffs.
If Lakeland could pull off another run, they would equal the success of the VIU Mariners this year's bronze medal winning team. The Mariners, after losing to Lakeland in the 2017 semifinals, rattled off four straight championships, interrupted by a gap year during the pandemic.
However, the team is simply focused on practicing, studying and enjoying the final few weeks of time together before the summer hits.
"It's going to look a lot different, so no one wants to look too far ahead," Bates said. "I haven't thought about it much. We'll have people potentially moved into different positions, but everything's just going to work out how it's meant to."
When asked about what she'll look back on most fondly, Varga said it's the time off-court that stands out. Which means this group, much like the last few years, has their priorities in order.
"I immediately go to hanging out in dorms and relaxing and having fun," she said. "That's what I'll miss the most."