Men's Volleyball 2009-10
here CMU BLAZER FEBRUARY ATHLETES OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to Evelyn Kampen of the women’s volleyball team and Todd Reimer of the men’s volleyball team on being selected February’s CMU Blazer Athletes of the Month. Evelyn led CMU to their third consecutive conference championship last weekend, winning 3-1 in the final over Red River College and being named CMU’s player of the game. Kampen led the Blazers in total kills and kill percentage this season and was selected as the MVP of MCAC Women’s Volleyball at the conference awards banquet.
Todd led CMU to a third-place finish at the 2010 Championships and was selected Player of the Game in a 2-0 win over Assiniboine Community College in their final game of the season. Todd led the Blazers in total kills this season and unleashed his potent spin-serve for seven consecutive points to close out the second set against the Cougars to win 25-22. Todd was selected to the 2010 All-Conference Team at the annual conference awards banquet.BLAZERS LOSE HEARTBREAKER AND SETTLE FOR THIRD PLACE
Saturday’s MCAC Men’s Volleyball Semi-Final between St-Boniface and CMU was exactly what spectators expected. In their previous meetings this season the Blazers had les Voyageurs number. Rarely were matches short and even more rarely would one team win back-to-back sets. The 2010 MCAC Semi-Finals would mirror those previous encounters, with St-Boniface emerging the victors in the tiebreaking fifth set. Game scores were 25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 12-25, 11-15. CUSB came out swinging in the fifth set, jumping to a 8-3 lead when the teams changed sides. As soon as the transition occurred, the Blazers ignited forcing les Voyageurs to a time out at 11-9. With too large a cushion, the Blazer men were unable to catch their opponents before they reached 15 points. CMU setter Brynden MacTavish was selected Player of the Game.In Sunday’s third-place match CMU used all hands to knock-out the host institution, Assiniboine Community College 2-0, by scores of 25-22, 25-22. The excitement in the match was the serving of Todd Reimer as the second set closed. CMU trailed 22-18 when Reimer came to serve and the 2010 MCAC All-conference selection displayed the quality of his venomous spin-serve by closing out the game with 7 straight service points. Along with Reimer, second-year middle Paul Peters was recognized at Saturday’s awards banquet for his outstanding achievement, when he too was selected to the all-conference team.
Date February 28, 2010
A POWERFUL OPPONENT
The Blazers dropped a straight-set loss to league-leading Red River on Saturday night by scores of 25-20, 25-20, 25-20. Though disappointed with the final scores, the Blazers showed consistent play and were even in play with the undefeated Rebels for most of the match. Todd Reimer led the way for CMU with 9 kills and Peter Dueck added 6 kills and 2 blocks. In a strategic move, head coach Mark Kliewer moved Paul Peters to play left side and Peters displayed his athleticism and versatility in picking up 7 kills. Josh Krueger added 3 stuff blocks for CMU in the loss.This week, CMU will play an exhibition series with Providence College – hosting the Freemen on Wednesday night at 7 pm, and travelling to Otterburne for round two on Friday night. The Freemen defeated the Blazers in their previous meetings last semester and CMU hopes to draw level with their southern opponents with successful performances this week. Providence has committed to return to MCAC conference volleyball play in Fall 2010, and this challenge is sure to be noteworthy as the games take on more meaning in the coming year. (Photo by Nadine Kampen)
Date January 30, 2010
MEN’S VOLLEYBALLERS BLAZE INTO THE BREAK
The CMU men’s volleyball team their second victory of the season over C.U. de St-Boniface on Sunday afternoon taking their record to 4 wins and 2 losses on the season in MCAC play. CMU outlasted the powerful their powerful cross-town opponents on November 12 with a 3-2 win and on this occasion made short work of the Voyageurs, posting a straight-set victory with scores of 25-18, 25-23 and 25-21. It was a total team effort for CMU. Right-side Peter Dueck led the Blazers offensively with 8 kills, followed by left-sides Todd Reimer and Tim Dueck with 7 kills each. 2nd year middle Paul Peters added 5 kills and led CMU in stuff blocks with 4. Veteran setter Jaron Friesen looked confident distributing the ball for CMU, after fearing that his season may end early due to recurring knee problems that surfaced in mid-November. In this his second full match back, Friesen was able to spread the ball around for the Blazers and contribute his usual leadership and consistency on the court.
The straight set win gives CMU victories in 5 of their last 6 sets against difficult opposition in St-Boniface and Providence College. The team will lean on the confidence they’ve gained from their last two matches of 2009 when they the new year, attempting to reel-in the Red River Rebels who currently sit 2-points atop the second place Blazers in the race for first place of the MCAC men’s volleyball standings.
Date December 9, 2009
THRILLING FIVE-SETTER
After suffering a straight set home defeat to Providence College on November 20th, the CMU men’s volleyball team travelled to Providence for their final showdown with the Freemen before the Christmas break and came up inches short of a victory, losing 3-2 (25-17, 26-24, 20-25, 23-25, 15-12). The Blazers appeared focused and were filled with self-belief after a 25-17 opening set loss. Even with an Improvement in their play in the second set, it was still not enough for the Blazers to top the Freemen; 26-24. But with their backs to the wall in the third set, CMU took to the offensive. Todd Reimer’s and Paul Peters were keys to that attack – Reimer recording 16 kills and Peters 13 on the night. Tim Dueck was terrific for CMU in the front row with 10 kills and he added 7 digs defensively. CMU will close out their fall semester schedule on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 pm when they travel across town to take on C.U. de-St. Boniface. The CMU women will play in the earlier match at 2 pm.
Date December 3, 2009
BLAZER DROP WEEKEND SET
The CMU Blazers men’s volleyball team closed out the month of November suffering back to back straight set loses. On Friday, Providence College invaded the Loewen Athletic Centre and foiled the confident Blazers 25-20, 25-20, 25-20. Right-side Kevin Hildebrand paced the Freemen to the victory in their first match of the season. Other bright spots for Providence were left-side Dallen Klassen and middle Bryton Arnal. Rallies were few and far between in the opening game. The Blazers, who earlier this month dismantled powerful C. U. de St-Boniface, showed weaknesses in serving consistency and blocking. Credit must be given to Providence setter Paul Warkentin who utilized the full Freemen arsenal and found unopposed hitters on several occasions.
In the third set, momentum finally swung the way of the home team. Trailing by two points, CMU setter Jaron Friesen set Todd Reimer for an uncontested swing that was loaded with venom. The attack was unable to be avoided by the Providence defender, bouncing from his forehead to the gym rafters. Reimer led CMU offensively with 8 kills and a service ace. With the crowd now awake and cheering with support, the visitors managed to reassert themselves and collect the third set and with it, the match.
Saturday wasn’t any more kind for CMU, taking on the conference’s top team from Red River College. Without the services of second-year Andrew Maronese, middle blocking continued to be a weakness for the Blazers. Red River middles Sean McIlrath and Curtis Toews led the way for the Rebels, leaving CMU on the short end of a 25-23, 25-17, 25-22 straight-set score line. Offensively, Peter Dueck and Paul Peters were the top scorers for the home team with 8 and 6 kills respectively. Third-year libero Josh Ewert was his consistent self, recording 7 digs to keep the Blazers in the match.
The successive losses are a difficult pill for the Blazers to swallow and head coach Mark Kliewer will be sure to address the weaknesses in training this week before the team closes out 2009 with matches at Providence and C.U. de St-Boniface in December.
MacTavish LEADS CMU TO CMU MARATHON WIN
Pushed into the starting setting position on Thursday night after Jaron Friesen succumb to a knee injury during training this week, third-year setter Brynden MacTavish led the CMU men’s volleyball team to come from behind five-set victory over College Universitaire de St-Boniface by scores of 16-25, 25-15, 25-15, 19-25, and 15-13. Todd Reimer and Peter Dueck were the high scorers for CMU with 12 kills and 10 kills respectively. Reimer and Dueck each added 3 digs for the home team. The win pushes CMU into a tie for first place with the defending champions from Red River. The two teams will meet at CMU to settle things on Saturday, November 21 at 7:30pm. Date November 16, 2009
Blazers Take Two In Red Deer
The CMU men’s volleyball team showed significant improvement from their 2008 result this Thanksgiving Weekend at the Red Deer College Men’s Volleyball Tournament. Unable to record a victory last year, Mark Kliewer’s 2009 Blazers improved by two wins last weekend, beating The Kings College and Olds College to end tournament 2-4. Peter and Tim Dueck led the way for the Blazers during the weekend, combining for 64 kills. The Swift Current brothers were also steady defensively. Peter recorded 6 digs to Tim’s 5. Outside hitter Todd Reimer was second only to Peter Dueck on the weekend, hitting for 39 kills and 7 service aces.Though the two wins was a major improvement for the Blazers, they did face their obstacles. CMU fell in 3 sets to the hosts from Red Deer and dropped matches to Lakeland and Red River College in four sets. The Blazers will take some time off before their next matches when they host their first MCAC home weekend when they entertain Assiniboine Community College on October 31st.
Date Oct 13, 2009
FOUR SET LOSS FOR BLAZERS IN SEASON OPENER
The defending MCAC Champions were too hot to handle for the CMU men’s volleyball team, who dropped their season opener in four sets on Tuesday night to Red River by scores of 18-25, 27-25, 22-25, and 21-25. The Blazers were led by college transfer Todd Reimer who scored 15 for CMU in a losing effort. 2008 Male Rookie of the Year, Paul Peters added 7 kills for CMU and both Reimer and Peters recorded 3 stuff blocks. Reimer, a native of Rosenort, Manitoba spent the 2008 season at Bethany College in Hepburn Saskatchewan before joining CMU this fall. Reimer and the Blazers depart for Red Deer, Alberta on Thursday morning where they will battle Alberta’s best, taking on the host Kings on Friday and Augustana and King’s College on Saturday.
Mens Vball Photos Oct 6
Date October 6, 2009
GOLDEN BLAZERS WIN MCAC WOMENS VOLLEYBALL CROWN 2008-09
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