Carter Hansen goes up for a kill in ACAC men's volleyball action (Photo courtesy of Lethbridge College)

By Justin Goulet

Kodiaks hosting ACAC men’s volleyball championship this week

Feb 26, 2020 | 11:44 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Some of the best volleyball players in the province will be in Lethbridge this week.

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks host the 2020 Murray Chevrolet Cadillac ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championships. Eight teams will be taking part, with athletes competing starting Thursday (Feb. 27).

Teams are slated to arrive today, Feb. 26 for practices and the ACAC awards banquet.

Last year marked the first time the Kodiaks played in the ACAC championship game, where they captured a silver medal. This year, it’s all about capturing the gold.

They’re certainly on the right track, having finished the regular season in first place in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) south division with a record of 20-4.

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The Kodiaks tied NAIT and Red Deer for the best record in the ACAC and they enter the tournament in second place in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national rankings.

Lethbridge’s first game (quarterfinal) at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium is Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. against the Lakeland College Rustlers. Lakeland finished the regular season with an 11-13 record.

The Kodiaks are led by fifth-year right-side hitter Carter Hansen. This season, Hansen broke the ACAC all-time kills record and will retire from the program with an ACAC record 1,370 regular season kills.

He finished second in kills per set in the conference this season, averaging 3.69.

“Kodiaks Volleyball is excited to showcase our spot this weekend in front of the great crowds in southern Alberta,” said the team’s head coach Greg Gibos in a college-issued release.

“This group of athletes has been so dedicated to growing the game in Lethbridge, and I’m excited they will get to compete in such an amazing atmosphere. We can’t wait to get the tournament started and to compete against the best teams in the conference.”

The first 250 fans at Thursday night’s game will receive a limited-edition Kodiaks shirt, courtesy of Co-op. The team is encouraging all fans to wear white in support of the Lethbridge squad.

“It’s exciting to not just host the men’s volleyball championship for the first time ever, but have a host team that has a legitimate shot at a championship,” said Kodiaks Athletics manager Todd Caughlin.

“We are excited to once again showcase to the entire ACAC what we are capable of as hosts of a major championship. We have exciting events planned that will make the Val Matteotti Gymnasium the place to be in southern Alberta this week.”

Additionally, the Kodiaks 2019 CCAA women’s cross-country national championship team will receive their championship rings between the second and third sets of the volleyball team’s matchup.

Quarterfinals of the ACAC championship tournament run Thursday, with semi-finals on Friday and the medal round games on Saturday, with the gold medal game scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

The tournament schedule – provided by Lethbridge College

General admission tickets for the tournament are $40 for a tournament pass and $15 per day. Seniors (65 and older) and alumni passes are $25 for the tournament and $10 per day.

Lethbridge College students and staff are admitted free with their school I.D. Other post-secondary and high-school students can get admission for $2 per day with their student I.D. card. Children 12 and under get in for free.

More details on the tournament can be seen through the event’s official webpage.