(Lakeland College/Keyano College/Concordia University/King's University/Augustana/Red Deer Poly/Olds College)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Opening rounds

Local athletes begin college playoffs this weekend

Mar 4, 2022 | 5:01 PM

Saskatchewan is well represented in post-secondary athletics.

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Association begins with playoff action in multiple team sports this weekend, including volleyball, basketball and hockey. Several athletes, male and female, from northwest Saskatchewan are competing on the court and on the ice tonight and tomorrow.

Basketball and volleyball have a play-in round Friday evening to qualify for the quarterfinals on Sunday. The semifinals are hosted by the top ranked school in either the North or South divisions, with games taking place next weekend.

Hockey features quarterfinal action on the men’s side, with future rounds to take place over the next few weeks. The women’s league finishes the regular season this weekend, before the semifinal starts next weekend.

The following is an abbreviated list of some of the players with local and regional connections.

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Lakeland College

Several athletes have been able to compete close to home by suiting up for the Rustlers in Lloydminster. Maidstone High graduate Alana Olson is averaging 10 points and seven rebounds in her second season with Lakeland, a team currently undefeated in their bid to repeat as league champions. They’ll host the Final Four next weekend, but first have to win their quarterfinal matchup in Lloydminster on Sunday.

Another local hooper, Riley Rathwell of North Battleford, has become a mainstay in the rotation for Lakeland’s men’s team. He plays tonight at home in the play-in.

In men’s volleyball, Jake Willick of Dorintosh and Mason Short of Medstead will also be on the court in Lloydminster on Friday, while in women’s volleyball, MacKenzie Yole from Île-à-la-Crosse suits up for the top ranked women’s team on Sunday.

Keyano College

Two more Yole’s from Île-à-la-Crosse, Preston and Mike, are members of the Huskies men’s volleyball squad, which hosts a play-in match Friday evening.

Concordia University

North Battleford Comprehensive grad Jolene Cook has had an excellent rookie campaign with the women’s volleyball team. She gets her first taste of playoff action on Friday on the road against Keyano.

King’s University

Meadow Lake’s Mason Gorski has embraced the starting setter role in his first year as an Eagle. The team host a quarterfinal matchup on Sunday.

University of Alberta – Augustana Campus

NBCHS alumni and former Battlefords North Star Owen Lamb is in his second year with the men’s hockey program. The fifth seeded Vikings take on the SAIT Trojans tonight in Calgary and in Camrose on Saturday.

Red Deer Polytechnic

Madison Samsom, a former Battlefords Shark, and Regan Doig, a former North Star, suit up for the Queens and Kings this evening.

Olds College

Another former Shark, Keera Tiringer of Leoville, will compete for the Broncos women’s hockey team.

Every game is available online through ACAC TV. All start times are in Mountain Standard Time.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

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