Lakeland College Rustlers men's volleyball team are set to start their regular season of Alberta College Athletic Conference play and North Battlefords' own Kendall Albert will be front and centre on the team.
Albert has had over a month of pre-season training and exhibition action where he helped lead the squad to several impressive results against other Canadian colleges in a pre-season tour to Manitoba.
Sept. 23-24, the Rustlers competed in the Canadian Mennonite University (CMU)tournament in Winnipegplaying against four other colleges.Lakeland competed well, defeating Lakehead University and CMU, before finally falling short to theRed River Rebels in the tournament final.
Lakeland later returned to Manitoba, this time to Brandon to meet the reigning CIS national finalists in an exhibition match.The Rustlers did themselves proud, pushing the much bigger and more experienced Brandon University Bobcats to the limit before finally falling 3-1 (15-25, 27-25, 25-27, 21-25).Albert led the Rustlers with six stuff blocks and providedmature leadership for the 12 first-year players on the squad.
Albert is the most experienced member of the team this season, as he is returning for his third year with the Rustlers.Standing at 66? and playing right side, Albert is also one of the team captains.
Albert and the Rustlers play their home opener Saturday against Concordia University at 8 p.m. in Lloydminster.
Changing sports, Tianna Balfour will be making her rookie debut with the Rustlers' women's basketball team. The guard, the only senior starter with the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings last season, is one of the smallest players on the Rustlers' roster this season at 55?.
Balfour was one of the Vikings' top scorers last season and a key component to their offensive attack on their way to competing in HOOPLA last season.
Balfour and Rustlers will begin the regular season Friday against NAIT.
