Pictured L-R: Josh Bell signs with the Lakeland Rustlers, and is seen in action spiking the ball with his Huskies club team. (Submitted photos/Josh Bell)

By Martin Martinson

Rustlers Volleyball

Crusaders’ Bell excited for next chapter with Lakeland College

Apr 24, 2024 | 4:27 PM

Following a highly successful last three years with the John Paul II Crusaders volleyball team, North Battleford’s Josh Bell will be headed to Lakeland College for the next chapter of his volleyball journey this fall.

The Crusaders’ senior said he looks forward to the opportunity ahead to continue to pursue his passion of volleyball onto the post-secondary ranks, something he’s been working towards for a few years now.

“I think it’s been two years now since I’ve realized that this is something I want to do. Obviously I’m super excited that I get this opportunity to carry on playing a sport that I have lots of passion for at the next level,” he said. “I’m just super excited to get moving on to that next level.”

Bell went on to say the school’s nearby location, situated less than 1.5 hours away in Lloydminster, and its competitive volleyball program really made Lakeland an ideal fit.

“It’s close in proximity, so that’s a big positive moving there and having my parents be able to still be pretty close to support me,” Bell said. “[The Rustlers] are on the rise as a program right now too, so I think it’s a really good opportunity to get in on that now and be a part of it.”

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In Lakeland, Bell also has the benefit of some familiar faces right off the bat, in fellow club volleyball and Team Sask. teammate, Nathan Musschoot, who will also be joining the Rustlers this fall, and former Crusader teammate, Declan Mercer, who just recently wrapped his second year with the Rustlers’ volleyball program.

“[Nathan and I] are good buddies so it’s good to have him around with me, and then I played with Declan in high school as a Grade 10, so it’s good to have someone whose got lots of experience at that program as a familiar face too and someone who was sort of a mentor for me when I first started,” Bell said.

In Bell, the Rustlers are getting an experienced outside hitter whose accolades include a provincial gold medal and two silvers over his high school tenure with the Crusaders, in addition to three years of club experience split between the Battlefords Volleyball Club and Saskatoon’s HHVC Blockbusters and HVC 18U Premier Team.

He also captained Saskatchewan’s 16U Team two years ago at the Canada Cup in Calgary and again represented the province with the 17U Team in Niagara.

The Lakeland Rustlers men’s volleyball team finished the 2023-24 ACAC season third in the North standings, with a 13-6 record in 19 matches played.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1