WESMEN NEWS  JANUARY 19 – JANUARY 25, 2009

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Fri. – Sat. Jan. 23 – 24  Men’s and Women’s Basketball vs Regina
(Women @ 6:00 p.m.  Men @ 8:00 p.m.)   *Friday’s Women’s game on 1290 CFRW*

AWAY:

Fri. – Sat. Jan. 23 – 24  Men’s and Women’s Volleyball @ Alberta
(Friday : Men @ 7:30 p.m.  Women @ 9:00 p.m.   Wpg Times)
(Saturday: Women @ 7:30 p.m.  Men @ 9:00 p.m.  Wpg Times)


WESMEN GONDOLA PIZZA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Justin Duff, men’s volleyball
Justin, third year middle was solid in Friday’s match in Calgary against the third ranked Dinos. Duff finished the match with 13 kills on 18 attempts with only one error for an attack percentage of .667%.
• 18 total kills
• Eight blocks
• Team high six blocks in Saturday’s match
• Currently fifth in Canada West attack percentage (.432) and 11th in blocks (40).
 
Lauren Sears, women’s volleyball
Lauren, second year middle was consistent in the two weekend matches against the fourth ranked Calgary Dinos. In Friday’s opening match of the series, Sears finished with a team high seven kills.
• 14 total kills
• Seven defensive digs
• One Block, One service ace
• Team leader with 27 blocks and third in kills (88).

GENERAL WESMEN NEWS

This coming Sunday evening the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters will hold their annual awards ceremony and dinner. For the second consecutive year the  Wesmen will have a part in the festivities. The 2007-08 Men’s Volleyball Team that won a silver medalist the CIS Championship last March is a finalist in the Team of the Year category. Also nominated for an award is Men’s Volleyball star Ben Schellenberg, who is a finalist in the Male Athlete of the Year category. Tickets are still available by contacting Ken Kobelka. Phone 253-2341 or e-mail kkobelka@yahoo.ca

Attention all Wesmen fans….how does a trip to Las Vegas sound, well it is possible. The Winnipeg Wesmen in conjunction with Out n’ About Travel is giving away a weekend trip to Las Vegas. Draw ballots are available at all Wesmen home games/matches. Each ballot cost $2.00 with all proceeds going towards the University of Winnipeg’s Athletic Scholarship Fund. The draw will be made at the Sat, Feb. 6th basketball game vs Simon Fraser. All entrants must be in attendance to win.

The 2009 Wesmen Summer Sports Camps will once again be taking place at the Duckworth Centre in July and August. Information and on line registration will soon be available at www.wesmen.ca

WESMEN IN THE COMMUNITY

This past Saturday afternoon, past and present members of the Wesmen Basketball family conducted a clinic for 40 children from the Rossbrook House at the Victoria Albert School. Special thanks to Adam Dobriansky, Diego Contador, Dan Shynkaryk, Alex MacIver, and Jae Pirnie.

At this past Friday evening’s women’s volleyball match against Calgary the Wesmen welcomed Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg as their special guests.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The Women’s Volleyball team hosted the fourth ranked Calgary Dinos in a weekend series at the Duckworth Centre. In Friday’s opening match Calgary defeated the Wesmen 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-17). Lauren Sears led the team with seven kills. Marlee Bragg contributed six kills. Ariel Smith led the team with nine defensive digs. The Wesmen put up a better effort on Saturday night falling short in a 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-16, 25-16) loss. Marlee Bragg led the team with 12 kills. First year sensation Ariel Smith finished with nine kills, 10 defensive digs, two service aces and three blocks. Middle Lauren Sears had seven kills. Tessa Peterson had a match high 16 defensive digs. Winnipeg’s record currently sits at 1-13. The team will travel to Edmonton to take on the Alberta Pandas (12-4) on Friday and Saturday nights.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The sixth ranked men’s team was in Calgary this past weekend for a weekend showdown with the third ranked Calgary Dinos. Calgary defeated the Wesmen Friday night 3-1 (22-25, 35-33, 25-21, 25-16). Andrew Town led Winnipeg with a match high 20 kills. Justin Duff added 13 kills and finished the match with an impressive attack percentage of .667. Alan Ahow had eight defensive digs. Maurice Williams added four blocks. On Saturday night Calgary completed the weekend sweep with another 3-1 (25-22, 14-25, 28-26, 25-14) victory. Andrew Town had a team high 15 kills and eight defensive digs. Paul Kjos had nine kills. Justin Duff finished the match with six blocks.
The Wesmen currently have a record of 7-5, tied for fourth place in the tight Canada West conference standings. The team will be on the road this weekend in Edmonton to face the undefeated Alberta Golden Bears (14-0) Friday and Saturday.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The sixth ranked women’s team headed out to British Columbia for a tough two game road trip. In Friday’s opening game against UBC, the Wesmen were defeated 62-53 by the defending national champions. Catie Gooch led the team with 13 points. Jessica Stromberg added 10 points and nine rebounds. Amy Ogidan scored nine points, hauled in nine rebounds and dished out five assists. On Saturday the team headed to the island to face the ninth ranked Victoria Vikes. The Wesmen dropped their second consecutive game 69-56. Jessica Stromberg was the Wesmen leader scoring 18 points and hauling in 11 rebounds. Winnipeg currently sits with a record of 10-6, second place in the Great Plains Division. The Wesmen will host the division leading Regina Cougars (12-4) on Friday and Saturday at the Duckworth Centre. Game time both nights is 6:00 p.m. Friday’s game will be carried live on 1290 CFRW with Paul Edmonds providing the play by play and Steve Thompson adding the color commentary.


MEN’S BASKETBALL

Head Coach Dave Crook and his squad headed out to British Columbia looking to snap a four game losing streak. On Friday night the Wesmen was no match for the third ranked UBC Thunderbirds losing 98-58. Peter Lomuro led the Wesmen with 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike James and Chris Jordan finished with 11 points each. On Saturday the Wesmen got off to a slow start in a 76-55 loss to the number ten ranked Victoria Vikes. Nick Lother led Winnipeg with 14 points. Mike James added a double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds. Winnipeg currently sits with a record of 3-13, two points behind the Manitoba Bisons for the third and final spot in the Great Plains division. The Wesmen will host the first place Regina Cougars (9-7) on Friday and Saturday nights at the Duckworth Centre. Game time both nights is 8:00 p.m.