Lakeland Rustlers crowned national champions in Niverville

The 2026 Canadian College Athletic Association women’s national volleyball championships came down to one key set.

Alberta’s Lakeland Rustlers, locked 1-1 with the Lynx d’Édouard-Montpetit, trailed in the third set of the final 20-13, but managed to battle back to win 28-26, carrying the momentum into the fourth for a championship win over their Quebec-based opponents.

Lakeland head coach Austin Dyer said that third set was the turning point of his team’s whole championship run.

“If we control the ball, we’re really hard to stop,” Dyer said after the final March 15, noting the Rustlers roster had the experience to weather any pressure the Lynx could put on them.

“We have the capability to come back from any lead. It’s kind of crazy we were able to come back from that deficit, but that’s what championships are made out of.”

The only set the Rustlers dropped across the tournament was in the final, defeating hosts Providence and Humber 3-0.

“The Montpetit team are a championship calibre team, they’re built to win, no question” Dyer said.

“They have lots of size, good serving. They did a good job of getting us out of system, and when they did we really struggled to side out and they were able to stack points when that happened.”

The championships were hosted in Niverville, as Providence College welcomed the best college volleyball programs in Canada for the second consecutive year after hosting the 2025 men’s national championships.

“They put on a great tournament for us,” Dyer said.

“The facility works out great, the hospitality was awesome. Every piece of the tournament was great.”

Chris Koop helped run both the 2026 women’s and the 2025 men’s national championships. He said this year’s tournament was a lot more relaxing for organizers, as they leaned on the experience from last year.

“I think the tournament went off exceptionally well,” Koop said as the confetti was cleaned up from the floor inside the Niverville Resource and Rec Centre.

“I think we really elevated the exposure of MCAC (Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference) and volleyball in general in Manitoba… I’m just really, really proud of my team.”

The committee worked to give the AMF fieldhouse a national championship vibe, with massive banners of each team adorning the walls and additional seating around the volleyball court.

“I think we were able to elevate it this year,” Koop said.

“It just felt like a national championship. It’s so cool we’re in a small town and we’re doing it, and we’re crushing it. I’m so proud of Providence University College, (they’re a) small school that really stepped up and had the same vision our committee did.”

Koop even got a chance to take in the final as a fan, noting Montpetit’s outstanding defense held up admirably against Lakeland.

“(The Rustlers) just kept swinging and swinging and swinging, and you always wonder in a match like that will they get worn down by being dug so much, but they just found another gear,” Koop said.

Lakeland’s Avery Bates was named tournament most valuable player, posting a match-high 22 kills in the final.

The host Providence Pilots went 0-3 at the tournament, but head coach Kyle Guenther was happy with his team’s performance at the event, as they battled hard against Lakeland and Mount Allison before falling to Manitoba champions Assiniboine.

“We actually played some of the best volleyball we’ve played all year,” Guenther said after the finals.

“Our team came together so well this week. Even though we were at home and had the luxury of not being in the hotel and travelling too much, we still bonded well and had a great experience.”

The Pilots missed the playoffs in Manitoba this season, as the conference has leveled up over the past few years.

“There was parity across the league this year, that was nice to have every weekend as a challenge, that’s all we want,” Guenther said.

“That’s all we want, to be battle tested by the end of the season… It was really special to see (Assiniboine) have the success they did.”

Top hitter Tyra Peters and starting setter Amanda Bergen are graduating from the program this season, meaning next year’s Pilots team will have a completely new look. They were two of the first five-year athletes in Pilots volleyball history.

“It will be a big turnover, but an opportunity for culture and for the new group to set the tone for Providence volleyball,” Guenther said.

For more photos from nationals, check out Carillon Sports Second Shots, published every Wednesday at thecarillon.com/sports.