The Lakeland College Rustlers are national champions once again. As first reported in the game recap by ccaa.ca
Lakeland captured its fourth consecutive Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball title Saturday, defeating the Lynx d’Édouard-Montpetit 3-1 in the national final at the Niverville Community Resource and Recreation Centre in Niverville, Manitoba.
The Rustlers dropped the opening set 25-17 before rallying to win the next three sets 25-20, 28-26 and 25-22 to secure the program’s latest national championship.
Avery Bates delivered a dominant performance in the championship match and was named tournament MVP and Lakeland’s Player of the Game.
Bates recorded 22 kills, 15 digs, three blocks and two service aces while consistently delivering in key moments for the Rustlers.
Setter Katelyn Mazurkewich directed the offence with 43 assists while adding four kills, nine digs and two blocks. Raegan Nicol anchored Lakeland’s presence at the net with four blocks.
The turning point of the match came in a dramatic third set.
The Lynx built a 20-12 lead after Alyson Gagne delivered four consecutive service aces, but Lakeland mounted a comeback and fought off multiple set points. The Rustlers erased deficits of 21-24 and 25-26 before taking the set 28-26 and shifting momentum in the match.
Lakeland carried that momentum into the fourth set, building an early 3-0 lead before closing out the championship with a 25-22 victory.
For the Lynx, Alyson Gagne earned Player of the Game and First-Team All-Star honours with 18 kills, seven service aces and nine digs. Dalia Boissinot added 13 kills and 13 digs while Marilou Durocher led the offence with 40 assists.
Lakeland’s run to another championship came during a season that included significant challenges off the court. Earlier this year, ACAC sanctions forced the Rustlers to forfeit eight regular-season matches, leaving the team with an official 0-8 conference record and stripping the program of its automatic berth in the provincial championships as the host institution. Despite those setbacks, the Rustlers regrouped and delivered when it mattered most on the national stage.
The championship marks the fourth straight national title for the Rustlers, further cementing the program as one of the most dominant teams in Canadian collegiate volleyball.
Earlier in the day, the Vancouver Island University Mariners captured the bronze medal with a four-set victory over the Augustana Vikings.
Lauren Hoard led the Mariners with 15 kills and 15 digs while libero Jordy Exner anchored the defence with 26 digs. Hadley Ziemmer paced the Vikings with 17 kills and 16 digs.
With the national championship secured, the Rustlers add another chapter to an already historic run, completing a fourth straight season atop Canadian collegiate volleyball.
Read more: ACAC removes Lakeland as host after Conference Council vote
