GOLDEN BLAZERS WIN MCAC WOMENS VOLLEYBALL CROWN
The CMU women's volleyball team battled back from a opening set loss to Assiniboine Community College in the 2009 MCAC Women's Volleyball Championships on Sunday afternoon, to take the provincial title 3 sets to 1 in front of a boisterous crowd of CMU supporters. "The girls all seemed a little nervous in the first game," explained head coach Andrea Charbonneau, "It took them a while to calm down." But they did get themselves settled in the second set and from that point on, the Blazers didn't look back.CMU was led by their all-conference award winners, setter Jodi Plenert, middle Ainsley Matheson and captain Kirsten Hamm. Erynn Wiebe and Maraleigh Short made some critical defensive plays in the third set, and each recorded massive kills that helped the Blazers sail on to victory.
In their semi final match, the Blazers beat College Universitaire de St. Boniface in straight sets, though it was certainly not an easy run to the finals. The Blazers found themselves trailing in two sets to les Voyageurs, and on both occasions coach Charbonneau was forced to call a timeout to allow her team to collect themselves.
The CMU men's volleyball team also finished their 2009 campaign on a winning note on Sunday, defeating the Assiniboine Cougars in straight sets to win the bronze medal. The Blazers were disappointed with their semi-final result on Saturday evening, when they were unable to upset the # 2 ranked Voyageurs. Though not expected to win, the Blazers had given themselves plenty of hope with their second semester results. One week earlier, CMU were two points away from defeating the eventua
l gold medalists from Red River College, losing 15-13 in a tie-break. David Kukkonen was honored on Saturday night at the banquet, as the only CMU men's player selected to the all-conference team.
In all it was a fantastic weekend of volleyball at CMU. The athletics department would like to specifically thank Earl Davey, Marilyn Peters Kliewer, all the supporters and most of all, the many student volunteers for helping make this tournament a first-class event for everyone involved. Date February 9th, 2009
CMU Hosts Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference Volleyball Championships
Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference Final Four Volleyball Championships
On Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8, 2009, the MCAC men’s and women’s Final Four Volleyball Championships will take place at Canadian Mennonite University, 500 Shaftesbury Boulevard, in Winnipeg.
The men’s and women’s teams in competition will come from Red River College (RRC), Assiniboine Community College (ACC), Collège Universitaire de Saint-Boniface (CUSB), and Canadian Mennonite University (CMU).
Saturday, February 7
12:00 p.m. Women’s Semifinal 1 (#2 ACC vs. #3 RRC)
1:30 p.m. Women’s Semifinal 2 (#1 CMU vs. #4 CUSB)
3:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony
3:30 p.m. Men’s Semifinal 1 (#2 CUSB vs. #3 CMU)
5:00 p.m. Men’s Semifinal 2 (#1 RRC vs. #4 ACC)
7:30 p.m. Championship Banquet
Sunday, February 8
1:00 p.m. Men’s Bronze Medal Final
2:30 p.m. Women’s Bronze Medal Final
4:00 p.m. Women’s Gold Medal Final
5:30 p.m. Men’s Gold Medal Final
The newly formed Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (formerly Central Prairies Athletic Conference) currently has eight member institutions competing in a wide variety of men’s and women’s sports such as volleyball, hockey, basketball, and soccer among others. The MCAC Executive Director is Bill Wedlake. Wedlake was recently awarded the 2009 “Dallas Beck Good Guy Award” by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
The MCAC is currently seeking membership in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association. The CCAA currently has 109 member institutions representing five regional athletic conferences. Membership in the CCAA would allow Manitoba institutions to compete for intercollegiate athletic national championships.
for further information contact:
Darrin Bauming
Communications Coordinator
204-299-9903
mcacnews@gmail.com
mcacathletics.ca
Date February 5, 2009
BLAZERS MAKE A STATEMENT
In front of a boisterous crowd that echoed with the sounds drums, noise-makers and cheers, the top-seed CMU Blazers defeated Red River in straight sets by scores of 25 - 18, 25 - 8 and 25 - 19. CMU was led by two first-year players, middle blocker Ainsley Matheson of Winnipeg and left-side Maraleigh Short of Rivers, Manitoba. Date January 28, 2009 Kirsten Hamm Named MCAC Female Athlete of the Week
CMU Volleyball Player Named Female Athlete of Week by MCAC
Kirsten Hamm, team captain of the CMU women’s volleyball team, has been named the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) female athlete of the week for the week of January 12-16.
A 5’10” second-year middle--and one of only two returning players--Hamm has led her team to 13-1 record in the MCAC. The team is currently on a bit of a hot-streak; they haven't lost a single set in their last nine matches, dating back to a 3-2 win over Red River College on October 24, 2008.
“With only two returning players and a new setter, it’s gone really well,” says Hamm, from Neubergthal, Man. “We’ve really come together. The level of improvement has been really high. As a team, keeping mentally focused is our biggest challenge.”
Hamm is studying English and Music at CMU.
Levy's Leathers, Performance Healthware Sign Up As Sponsors
Two new sponsors have signed up to support CMU Athletics.Levy's Leathers, 190 Disraeli Freeway, has signed on to support the men's basketball team, while Performance Healthware, 14-160 Meadowood Drive, has signed up to support the women's volleyball and women's soccer teams.
“We are grateful to both businesses for supporting athletics at CMU,” says CMU Athletics Director Russell Willms. “The funds will help us pay for road trips and purchase uniforms and equipment.”
In return for their sponsorship, the two businesses will be recognized in game programs and in signage in the Loewen Athletic Centre. For information about sponsoring a CMU team, contact Russell Willms. Date: December 17, 2008
Please download the Athletic Sponsorship Opportunities PDF.
SERVING PUSHES BLAZERS TO WIN
CMU 3 @ CUSB 0 – The CMU Women’s Volleyball team made it two in a row, with a straight set victory over College Universitaire du St. Boniface on Wednesday night by scores of 25-16, 25-16, 25-15.
The Blazers were led by the strong service game of fifth-year left-side, Vanessa Wiens. The Westgate Mennonite Collegiate graduate, recorded a game-high 8 service aces to lead CMU. Setter, Jodi Plenert provided her middles with consistent scoring opportunities in all three matches, while Shaftesbury graduate, Ainsley Matheson’s 14 kills accounted for much of the offense.The Blazers hope to build on their modest winning streak this weekend, when they host Assiniboine Community College from Brandon, on Saturday at 11:00am and 3:00pm. Date Oct. 31, 2008