Lasuik leads Cougars into playoff push

Tyra Lasuik knows the Assiniboine College Cougars are entering uncharted territory, and that she’s a big reason why.

Year after year, the last month of the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference women’s volleyball season has featured semifinal defeats always more crushing than the last.

A program that once had zero expectations has grown to believe it can punch above its weight.

But now, what was once unthinkable is within reach.

Lasuik has led the Cougars to a tie for the league lead at 7-5, with a chance to take full control of the race for first place this weekend.

The Cougars host the Canadian Mennonite University Blazers (7-5) on Saturday at 6 p.m., and Sunday at noon. A weekend sweep for either would be a giant step towards securing a bye to the league final and home-court advantage for the best-of-three series.

“That would be amazing, because I know since (head coach) Kevin (Neufeld) has been here, this is the first time they’ve been ranked first. That would be a really big accomplishment to have the semifinals or final hosted here and I know that would be a very big deal for AC as well.

“We know it’s our serve and pass game that’s going to win us the game.”

During Neufeld’s first three seasons at AC, a handful of setters have battled for playing time and often shared starting duties. But Lasuik, the former Neelin Spartan, has taken control and orchestrated the most efficient offence in the four-team league.

The Cougars are hitting .256, with the Blazers well behind at .212.

Lasuik has chipped in a massive 45 kills in as many sets played.

“Her vision on the court (and) her consistency in her game have really improved,” Neufeld said. “She scores a lot and creates a lot of opportunities for people with her great athletic ability.”

For Neufeld, the big difference between his team finishing 8-10 last season and being forced to travel to CMU for a one-match semifinal and this season, where AC can surpass that win total on Sunday, is simply the extra year of experience for his veterans.

“People within the game understand the difference between a second-year and a third-year and a second-year and first-year, one year or two years doesn’t seem like a lot, but it really is,” he said. “It might only be one or two points a set, but that might be the difference between winning and losing lots of times.”

For Lasuik, it’s the closeness of this group.

“We’ve been hanging out a lot more outside of volleyball and planning potlucks … which has helped with getting close,” she said.

“Since we’re very close, when things are going wrong, we don’t really get mad at each other. We’re there to support each other, encourage each other and uplift each other. It’s helped a lot with our communication.”

Looking inward, Lasuik feels she has matured a lot over the past two seasons. She admits she had a short temper on the court and didn’t handle mistakes well, which meant she was afraid to take risks with her decision-making.

“I would lose my mind. Now some things go wrong and I’m OK, it’s OK, we’ll get the next one,” Lasuik said.

“When I do make mistakes, I know it’s OK and my friends are there to support me.”

The five-foot-seven setter has also seen the starting lineup take shape nicely around her.

One big move Neufeld made was shifting all-Canadian Kylee Peake to the second outside hitter spot, making it easier for her to play against single blocks and take a match over.

That’s made possible by either Payton McNish or Celina Toews attacking well in the other spot.

Third-year opposite Marie Dunster missed some time with an injury, but Lasuik said she made massive strides beforehand and has returned to that level of play.

“On the right side, I can trust her to get the ball,” Lasuik said. “She’ll have a one-on-one every time because Kiera Virgo and Heather Brost will hold the middle blockers, and they have been exceptional with their blocking.”

Liberos Jordyn Bradbury and Victoria Cabral have both proved capable of stabilizing the back row, and when one is in, Neufeld plays the other as a defensive sub to try to steal a few more critical points.

All in all, a team that went winless before Neufeld took the reins has a legitimate shot at competing at Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association nationals.

The Providence Pilots already have their spot secured as hosts, so the next-highest-finishing team will head to Niverville on March 11-14.

The Cougars host the Pilots (7-7) on Feb. 6-7, then visit the Blazers on Feb. 13 and host the St. Boniface Les Rouges (5-9) on Feb. 14 to round out the 18-match regular season.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com