The Providence University College (PUC) Athletics Department has had a momentous few weeks, with several sports seasons coming to an end.
In men’s volleyball news, the Pilots defeated first the Assiniboine Community College Cougars, then the Canadian Mennonite University Blazers, to win this year’s MCAC championship on Sunday, February 26.
First-year player Libero Hector Ortiz earned the championship MVP honour.
Head coach Cody Quiring says that his team is something special.
“We spent hours and hours leading up to this conference championship honing in on some fine details of our system and spent endless hours in the video room game planning,” says Quiring. “Credit to each of the 14 strong. They bought into the game plan and executed at an elite level. I am beyond proud to call this group MCAC champions.”
But they’re done quite yet, he points out. The team will continue to train, as they will represent the MCAC at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National championships the week of March 6.
On the women’s volleyball front, the number-two-seeded Pilots were defeated by the number-one-seeded Université de Saint-Boniface (USB) Les Rouges in a five-set thriller of a game at the MCAC championship final on Sunday, February 26.
“For the team, I really wanted [the championship] for them,” says head coach Kyle Guenther. “This is an unbelievable group that was so amazing to work with all year. Even though we didn’t get the championship title, this team accomplished so much this year and gave everything they had, which is all we can ask. I’m a very proud coach and loved this season with an incredible group.”
With the end of the season came the end of Guenther’s time at Providence. After 13 seasons, he is stepping down. Guenther has led the program to multiple championships and just this year was recognized as the MCAC women’s volleyball coach of the year.
Following the end of the MCAC season, the league has announced their second annual True Sport Team. From the Providence program, both Emma Rogalsky and Nick Friesen were named to the team.
According to MCAC’s website, “The True Sport Team was developed to recognize student athletes who demonstrate the principles of True Sport on the field of play, in the classroom, and in the community.”
The MCAC also named Noah Boschman as men’s volleyball player of the year.
The women’s basketball team participated in the annual NIAC tournament in Plymouth, Minnesota on February 17–19.
In the quarterfinals, they bested Turtle Mountain Community College 71–57 to advance to the semifinals, where they were defeated by Trinity Bible College 87–47.
The men’s basketball team attended the NIAC tournament as well and faced a similar fate, first defeating Sisseton Wahpeton College 79–72 in the quarterfinals and then falling 85–83 in the semifinals against Trinity Bible College.
Meanwhile, the women’s futsal team ended their season with an 8–5 loss to the Brandon University (BU) Bobcats in the MCAC semifinals. Paige Heide of PUC scored all five of the team’s goals and was named player of the match.