FRESHMAN LADEN HAWKS TO OPEN SEASON ON THURSDAY
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Conestoga ( ) | 18 | 23 | 24 | 0 |
|
Humber ( ) | 25 | 25 | 26 | 0 |
ETOBICOKE, ON: The Humber Hawks men's volleyball team, once again in rebuild mode, will take a team with eight freshman to the court at home on Thursday to start the 2016/17 regular season against the Conestoga Condors. In a new approach to game times in OCAA volleyball circles, the game time is based on the completion of the women's game which plays prior to the men's tilt. The men's first serve will fly thirty minutes after the net is re-set to men's height.
Although the Hawks have many first year players on the roster, Humber does return a number of significant contributors. Returning starters from last year's squad are outside hitter Clayton Blanchette and libero Michael Majcen. Perhaps more of note is the return of former Hawks Adam Kinoshita and Alex Gibbs. These two played key roles in the Hawks success a few years back, and now they will be counted on to do more of the same.
The biggest impact player from the freshman stable is setter Oisin Hogan. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Hogan comes to the Hawks via Gonzaga High School in Newfoundland. Although injured in the Humber Cup earlier in the pre-season, he is back on the court and prepared to lead the Hawks as the season opens.
Head Coach Wayne Wilkins is pleased with the progression of the team to this point, but knows that they have to continue to improve should they want to return to the playoffs this year. Last season, Humber squeezed into the playoffs with a 10-8 record, but were eliminated in the dreaded sudden death playoff crossover game.
A much more improved Conestoga Condors club heads into the Humber Athletic Centre with a 1-1 record, with a much heralded 3-0 win over the always tough Redeemer Royals. The only barometer to handicap the Hawks/Condor match-up is that the Hawks lost 3-0 to Redeemer in pre-season tournament play.
The Hawks are going to have to count on the support of Hawk Nation, and friendly confines of the Humber Athletic Centre. An early season win would certainly go a long way in the team moving forward.
Should you be unable to attend, please catch the game via our "live stream", provided by Hawk broadcast team BRTV. CLICK HERE!
For all OCAA results, standings and more: CLICK HERE!
