The Lakeland Rustlers’ legacy turned into a dynasty as the women’s volleyball team won its third straight Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship last March in Ontario.
Read more: Year in review: A look at events in June 2025
After earning the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) championship in February, the Rustlers represented the region in the national championship tournament.
In the CCAA final, they defeated the Humber Hawks of Ontario 3-1 to complete a record season.
No other ACAC women’s volleyball team has won three straight Canadian championships in the 60-year history of the Alberta conference.
“The team’s dedication, teamwork and perseverance in-spire us all,” the college said in a statement.
GOLDEN GIRLS OWN THE ICE
Meanwhile, another history-making Lakeland team is shaping up to be one of the best in ACAC women’s hockey history.
In just their third year of operation, the Rustlers won their first ACAC crown. They topped the Red Deer Queens 3-1 in the best-of-five final.
“It’s not every year you win your last game of the season, but when you do, it’s important to take time and enjoy it,” Lakeland coach Morgan Mann said after his Rustlers’ 7-1 victory in Game 4.
The Rustlers advanced to the championship series after sweeping the SAIT Trojans 2-0 in their opening-round series.
This season, Lakeland is leading the league with a 14-1 record, including a 13-game winning streak.
MEN’S HOOPS SHOWING PROGRESS
Late last season, the Lakeland College men’s basketball team was among the best in the ACAC through mid-February action.
The Rustlers sported a 12-5 record after a three-game winning streak that included a home sweep of Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves in lopsided and overtime fashion on back-to-back nights on the Lloydminster campus.
“We rely on our veteran players to carry the squad, but our rookies are really coming along and finding their way,” said Lakeland coach Sheray Thomas. “We’re not the biggest or tallest team, but we can … be a dangerous team.”
The Rustlers later earned a split with the NAIT Ooks as both of those teams finished the regular season with 14-6 records, tied for second place behind the Keyano Huskies (17-3). In the playoffs, Lakeland lost 93-81 in its quarter-final against St. Mary’s, defeated Lethbridge Polytechnic 76-70 and lost 80-68 to SAIT in the fifth-place game.
This season, the Rustlers’ men’s team is again showing its experience, posting a first-place record through the opening two months of ACAC action.
Lakeland and Keyano are off to 8-2 starts, while NAIT sits third at 8-3.
Read more: Year in review: A look at events in May 2025
