Kodiaks volleyball rookies step into starter roles

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s volleyball team’s youth movement took a step forward, and in five sets, no less.

It didn’t equate to a win as the Kodiaks were downed 3-2 by the SAIT Trojans in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference play to finish the weekend at 0-2, but the team’s youth was literally served.

First-year Kodiaks LeeAnne Arnott, Carley Doneff and Andie Curran were given their first ACAC starts and helped the Kodiaks take a 2-1 set lead. But the Trojans rattled off wins in the fourth and fifth sets as the Kodiaks fall to 1-3 after a 30 loss to SAIT Friday night at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.

“We had three freshmen on the floor tonight that didn’t get taken off at all,” said Kodiaks head coach Anna Schwark. “So I think we’re all realizing if we trust the process and keep working hard in the second half it’s going to pay off and we’re going to be where we want to be.”

Playing at middle, Doneff led the Kodiaks with 11 kills and added seven digs, while right-side Arnott had six kills and 14 digs.

Lining up at libero, Curran also had 14 digs in Saturday’s game.

“They definitely had a ton of focus and they carried our team with that focus,” said Schwark. “They didn’t show when they were down, they were just overall very consistent, especially considering they had never seen the floor in an AC AC game before as starters. So that was really exciting as a coach, to get them out there and have them do well.”

The Kodiaks won the first set 25-21, but the Trojans tied it at 1-1 with a 25-22 second set win.

Lethbridge took one more lead courtesy a 25-22 third set win, but SAIT put up a 25-11 fourth set win and put the game in the books with a 15-11 fifth set win.

“We had a much better showing than we did yesterday,” said Schwark. “We had a 2-1 set lead at the beginning and really had to fight for the last three, but SAIT ended up catching us in the fifth set.”

Lethbridge’s Harper Elwood had eight kills and Laura Serafini and Jamie Brown had six.

Brown added seven digs.

The Kodiaks look to get back on the winning track Friday and Saturday in a home-and-home series with the Ambrose Lions.

“It’s hard because we know our potential, but it’s important we keep our age and our in experience in perspective,” said Schwark. “To come out against a team like SAIT that has a lot of talent and older girls, I think we really battled.”

In the men’s game, the Kodiaks remain undefeated at 4-0 thanks to a 3-0 sweep over the Trojans Saturday night (25-19, 25-22, 26-24).

Carter Hansen once again led Lethbridge with 19 kills Dax Whitehead hammered 12.

Matt Primrose had 11 digs and Tony Albizzati had eight.

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