WESMEN - Athletics

Pizza Place Players of the Week

Men’s Basketball – Matt Opalko

Matt Opalko continues to prove he is one of the best young players in the CIS. The first year guard had 8 clutch points in the final six minutes of Friday night’s win over the Cougars – and added 16 points, 14 in the second half, in Saturday’s night’s victory over the same Cougars.

Women’s Basketball – JoAnne Wells

The Nan Copp award candidate averaged a double-double in a weekend split with the No. 1 ranked Regina Cougars. Wells averaged 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds during two hard fought and intense games between the two top teams in the country. She was also a perfect 12 for 12 from the line on Saturday night.

Men’s Basketball

The Wesmen are on a roll. After losing the first 15 games of the Canada West Conference season, Winnipeg has won three games in a row. The last two victories came over the Regina Cougars this past weekend. In their final two home games of the 2003-04 season, the Wesmen knocked off the Cougars 63-60 on Friday night and 78-69 on Saturday. Forward Mike Gomez had 13 points and 8 rebounds to lead Winnipeg in their first weekend win, while Dave Brar and J.P. Lynch added 10 points each. Lynch picked up 12 rebounds to complete the double-double. On Saturday night the Wesmen trailed the Cougars for most of the game until Matt Opalko ignited a Wesmen comeback. After managing only 2 points in the first half, Opalko lit up the Cougars for 14 in the final frame – many of them of the clutch variety. Gomez was tops again for the Wesmen, this time hitting for 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Wesmen take their modest three-game winning streak to British Columbia on the weekend, where they finish out the season with a Friday night game with the UBC Thunderbirds and a Sunday afternoon date with the Victoria Vikes.

Women’s Basketball

The Wesmen played perhaps their best game of the season on Saturday night, stomping the No. 1 ranked Regina Cougars 69-47 in front of a huge home crowd. Winnipeg played inspired basketball from start to finish, reminding the Wesmen faithful why they are serious threats to win a gold medal on their home court during the Women’s Nationals in March. JoAnne Wells was a force as she hit for 18 points and added 12 boards for the double-double. The Nann Copp candidate for the outstanding Women’s basketball player in the CIS also converted on all 12 of her chances at the line. Uzo Asagwara also had herself a good game, hitting for 15 points, including three 3-pointers. On Friday night a flat Winnipeg squad dropped a 60-56 decision to the Cougars. Saturday night’s win improves Winnipeg’s record to 13-5 in the Canada West Conference and they jump back into third place. The win ensures the Wesmen will host a first round best-of-three series in the opening round of the playoffs, starting on February 20th. But before that the Wesmen face two tough tests in the No. 3 ranked, 14-4 UBC Thunderbirds, and the No. 4 ranked, 12-6 Victoria Vikes in their final two games of the regular season next weekend in British Columbia.

Women’s Volleyball

The Wesmen head into the final two matches of the season in need of one win to guarantee the crucial fourth spot in the Canada West Conference playoff seedings. And those two matches come against cross-town rivals, the Manitoba Bisons. No. 6 ranked Winnipeg currently sits in fourth position with an 8-10 record and 14 points. The No. 5 ranked Bisons are right behind with an identical 8-10 record, but only 12 points. Canada West Conference teams receive 1 point for a win over a divisional opponent and 2 points for a win over a non-divisional opponent. Both teams are chasing the fourth position because the Canada West Conference has been awarded four spots for the upcoming Women’s Nationals in Saskatoon in March. So Thursday’s Duckworth Challenge match has more than just university pride on the line.

The Wesmen came close to sewing up the fourth spot on the weekend, but dropped two five-set decisions to the No. 2 ranked Alberta Pandas.

“We got better as the matches went on,” said Wesmen Coach Diane Scott. “But we fell behind in the fifth sets and couldn’t get back into it.”

Andrea Charbonneau had 31 kills and 7 stuff blocks while patrolling the middle for Winnipeg, while left side Jocelyn Roy added 24 kills and 30 digs. Fourth year left side Aynsley Laluk 29 kills, 29 digs and 5 stuff blocks to round out the Wesmen weekend stats.

Men’s Volleyball

In what looks like it might be a possible preview to the first round of the Canada West Conference Men’s Volleyball playoffs, the No. 5 ranked Wesmen take on the No. 2 ranked Manitoba Bisons in a home and home series Thursday and Sunday. The match Thursday night at the University of Manitoba is part of the second half of the 13th annual Duckworth Challenge and Saturday’s date at the Duckworth marks the end of the regular season. The Wesmen, 9-9, currently sit in fifth spot in the Conference and would face the No. 2 seed in the first round of the playoffs starting on February 20th. The Bisons are in second place with a 13-5 record.

This past weekend the Wesmen faced the No. 1 ranked Alberta Golden Bears and lost both matches 3-0.

“We just couldn’t put together a consistent effort,” said Wesmen Coach Larry McKay. On Friday night the match score flattered Alberta as the Golden Bears won the last two sets by scores of 33-31 and 26-24. Fifth year opposite Stephen Ens had 11 kills, 3 digs and 1 service ace, while third year middle Jarrod Small added 9 kills and 1 stuff block. On Saturday night, the Golden Bears proved dominant, winning by set scores of 25-21, 25-15 and 25-20. Fifth year middle Cam Dobie led the Wesmen with 13 kills.

WESMEN NEWS
February 9 - 15, 2004 *Pizza Place Players of the Week* Men’s Basketball – *Matt Opalko* Matt Opalko continues to prove he is one of the best young players in the CIS. The first year guard had 8 clutch points in the final six minutes of Friday night’s win over the Cougars – and added 16 points, 14 in the second half, in Saturday’s night’s victory over the same Cougars. Women’s Basketball – JoAnne Wells The Nan Copp award candidate averaged a double-double in a weekend split with the No. 1 ranked Regina Cougars. Wells averaged 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds during two hard fought and intense games between the two top teams in the country. She was also a perfect 12 for 12 from the line on Saturday night. *Men’s Basketball* The Wesmen are on a roll. After losing the first 15 games of the Canada West Conference season, Winnipeg has won three games in a row. The last two victories came over the Regina Cougars this past weekend. In their final two home games of the 2003-04 season, the Wesmen knocked off the Cougars 63-60 on Friday night and 78-69 on Saturday. Forward Mike Gomez had 13 points and 8 rebounds to lead Winnipeg in their first weekend win, while Dave Brar and J.P. Lynch added 10 points each. Lynch picked up 12 rebounds to complete the double-double. On Saturday night the Wesmen trailed the Cougars for most of the game until Matt Opalko ignited a Wesmen comeback. After managing only 2 points in the first half, Opalko lit up the Cougars for 14 in the final frame – many of them of the clutch variety. Gomez was tops again for the Wesmen, this time hitting for 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Wesmen take their modest three-game winning streak to British Columbia on the weekend, where they finish out the season with a Friday night game with the UBC Thunderbirds and a Sunday afternoon date with the Victoria Vikes. *Women’s Basketball* The Wesmen played perhaps their best game of the season on Saturday night, stomping the No. 1 ranked Regina Cougars 69-47 in front of a huge home crowd. Winnipeg played inspired basketball from start to finish, reminding the Wesmen faithful why they are serious threats to win a gold medal on their home court during the Women’s Nationals in March. JoAnne Wells was a force as she hit for 18 points and added 12 boards for the double-double. The Nann Copp candidate for the outstanding Women’s basketball player in the CIS also converted on all 12 of her chances at the line. Uzo Asagwara also had herself a good game, hitting for 15 points, including three 3-pointers. On Friday night a flat Winnipeg squad dropped a 60-56 decision to the Cougars. Saturday night’s win improves Winnipeg’s record to 13-5 in the Canada West Conference and they jump back into third place. The win ensures the Wesmen will host a first round best-of-three series in the opening round of the playoffs, starting on February 20th. But before that the Wesmen face two tough tests in the No. 3 ranked, 14-4 UBC Thunderbirds, and the No. 4 ranked, 12-6 Victoria Vikes in their final two games of the regular season next weekend in British Columbia. *Women’s Volleyball* The Wesmen head into the final two matches of the season in need of one win to guarantee the crucial fourth spot in the Canada West Conference playoff seedings. And those two matches come against cross-town rivals, the Manitoba Bisons. No. 6 ranked Winnipeg currently sits in fourth position with an 8-10 record and 14 points. The No. 5 ranked Bisons are right behind with an identical 8-10 record, but only 12 points. Canada West Conference teams receive 1 point for a win over a divisional opponent and 2 points for a win over a non-divisional opponent. Both teams are chasing the fourth position because the Canada West Conference has been awarded four spots for the upcoming Women’s Nationals in Saskatoon in March. So Thursday’s Duckworth Challenge match has more than just university pride on the line. The Wesmen came close to sewing up the fourth spot on the weekend, but dropped two five-set decisions to the No. 2 ranked Alberta Pandas. “We got better as the matches went on,” said Wesmen Coach Diane Scott. “But we fell behind in the fifth sets and couldn’t get back into it.” Andrea Charbonneau had 31 kills and 7 stuff blocks while patrolling the middle for Winnipeg, while left side Jocelyn Roy added 24 kills and 30 digs. Fourth year left side Aynsley Laluk 29 kills, 29 digs and 5 stuff blocks to round out the Wesmen weekend stats. *Men’s Volleyball* In what looks like it might be a possible preview to the first round of the Canada West Conference Men’s Volleyball playoffs, the No. 5 ranked Wesmen take on the No. 2 ranked Manitoba Bisons in a home and home series Thursday and Sunday. The match Thursday night at the University of Manitoba is part of the second half of the 13th annual Duckworth Challenge and Saturday’s date at the Duckworth marks the end of the regular season. The Wesmen, 9-9, currently sit in fifth spot in the Conference and would face the No. 2 seed in the first round of the playoffs starting on February 20th. The Bisons are in second place with a 13-5 record. This past weekend the Wesmen faced the No. 1 ranked Alberta Golden Bears and lost both matches 3-0. “We just couldn’t put together a consistent effort,” said Wesmen Coach Larry McKay. On Friday night the match score flattered Alberta as the Golden Bears won the last two sets by scores of 33-31 and 26-24. Fifth year opposite Stephen Ens had 11 kills, 3 digs and 1 service ace, while third year middle Jarrod Small added 9 kills and 1 stuff block. On Saturday night, the Golden Bears proved dominant, winning by set scores of 25-21, 25-15 and 25-20. Fifth year middle Cam Dobie led the Wesmen with 13 kills.