WEARY HAWKS DROP FIVE SET THRILLER TO END SEASON

HAMILTON, ON: The Humber Hawks men's volleyball team went up two sets early, but saw the Redeemer Royals take the next three sets to win the match 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 14-25, 18-25, 10-15)

The first set saw the Hawks and Royals fight back and forth to the 15 point mark. Humber then took the first real lead of the game, forcing Redeemer to call time out with the Hawks in the lead 18-15. With the fine play once again by Alex Gibbs and Clayton Blanchette, the Royals did not get any closer, and Humber closed out the set 25-20.

Errors were costly to the Redeemer side, as they served out of bounds many times in the set. With the game tied at 10, Humber went ahead by five and led 17-15. A mid game run by the Royals brought them to within two. After a block by Blanchette, Redeemer responded and drew to within two, forcing Humber to take a time out. A tight net violation by a Redeemer outside hitter gave Humber the point and the ball. A couple of scoring serves brought the Hawks close to victory in the second set. The final score was 25-19 Hawks, and they took a 2-0 lead in the match.

Humber did not even get out of the gate in the beginning of the third, falling behind 9-2. Although they showed a little life, it was much too little, much too late. Redeemer brought the match to 2-1, with a 25-14.

Redeemer continued the comeback from two sets down. After both teams played even to the 10 point mark, it was the Royals that took the set over. They won 25-18 and forced a fifth and final set.

Humber ran out to a 5-2 lead, but saw that lead dissipate quickly, giving up six straight, allowing Redeemer to lead 8-5 at the switch. The Hawks drew to one, but a couple more errors gave the Royals a 12-8 lead.  When the dust settled, it was Redeemer who came back from two sets down to win the match 3-2. The Royals took set five 15-10.

Veteran Adam Kinoshita was selected as the Humber Player of the Game.