January 23, 2020

Top athletic talent from across the province will take to the volleyball and basketball courts at Medicine Hat College (MHC) this winter when the Rattlers host two Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference championships.

“We are so proud to host these events and have another opportunity to welcome athletes, coaches, and fans to our beautiful city,” says Terry Ballard, manager of sport and wellness at MHC. “Our college is committed to delivering exceptional athletic events at the provincial and national levels with a focus on enhancing the student-athlete experience.”

The 2020 ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship runs Feb. 27 – 29, with the ACAC Women’s Basketball Championship the following week from Mar. 4 – 7.

Billed as celebrations of women and girls in sport, organizers plan to engage local female students, athletes and leaders throughout each event with a variety of initiatives, including invitations to the awards ceremonies featuring prominent female guest speakers and presenters. There will also be opportunities for female students to participate in the Get Benched! program at all 22 championship games, which brings them down to the players’ bench for an immersive courtside experience.

These events also mark a special milestone for the sport and wellness department at MHC. Several years ago, the department set a goal of hosting ACAC championships for all men’s and women’s sports represented by Rattlers Athletics: volleyball, basketball, golf, soccer, and futsal. With the 2020 championships in February and March that goal has been achieved, along with the successful delivery of two national championships for golf (2018) and women’s soccer (2014).

Support for these endeavors goes well beyond campus walls and Medicine Hat College is pleased to acknowledge South Country Co-op as the title sponsor for both events.

“Medicine Hat College is excited for the opportunity to work with South Country Co-op, a committed community leader, to deliver back-to-back, high caliber athletic events. Their dedication to supporting local initiatives is a great fit for these tournaments, helping to foster the community spirit that is so prevalent in our region,” says Tonielle Pavlovic, community relations officer.

Following the ACAC events at MHC, the top volleyball teams will move on to the CCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship hosted by Cégep Garneau in Québec, QC, from Mar. 11-14, 2020, while the successful basketball teams will compete at Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, BC from Mar. 18-21, 2020.

If you are interested in learning more about the ACAC Championships, visit www.acac.ab.ca. To learn more about the Rattlers athletes visit www.rattlers.ca.