Ten straight wins to open the season for No. 4 Men's Volleyball
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Conestoga (7-4, 7-4) | 22 | 23 | 18 | 0 |
|
Humber (10-0, 10-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – No. 4 Humber men's volleyball (10-0, 1st West) bid farewell to the Hawks Nest in 2024 by sweeping the Conestoga Condors (7-4, 2nd West) in straight sets (25-22, 25-23, 25-18). The Hawks remain one of three undefeated collegiate teams in Canada, alongside the Red Deer Kings and the College of the Rockies Avalanche. Alec Loney and Teyven Blackmore had another double-digit scoring performance, both grabbing a game-high 13 points.
Match recap
"Welcome" and "Goodbye." These two words defined the Humber men's volleyball final home game of 2024 at the Hawks Nest. "Goodbye" to the loyal Hawks fans who supported them through the first half of the season. And "Welcome" to the Conestoga Condors—a welcome to the fortress where opponents are knocked down.
Determined to flip the script, the Condors came out strong, quickly building a 10-6 lead as Humber struggled with ball reception and service errors. Despite the shaky start, Coach Wayne Wilkins' squad remained composed, clawing their way back to tie the set at 15-15. Humber briefly pulled ahead with a three-point run, but Conestoga responded to reclaim the lead at 20-19. Following a timeout to regroup the team on the floor, the Hawks returned reinvigorated. A late-game surge, punctuated by highlight-reel blocks from Michael McAlpine and Alec Loney, helped the Hawks capture an electrifying 25-22 first-set win.
Conestoga struck first again with both teams back to the second set, edging ahead 5-3. But, the Hawks quickly reignited their momentum, sparked by two thunderous kills from ice-blooded Teyven Blackmore. Riding the surge, Humber went on a six-point sequence to claim a 9-5 lead. The Condors, however, refused to back down, maintaining a back-and-forth battle and reclaiming the advantage at 15-13. Both squads traded points in a tense set until the final moments. With Humber on set point 24-23, an attacking error by the Condors secured the set for the Hawks.
In the third set, the Condors opened the scoring, but their lead was short-lived as Humber took control at 3-2 and never looked back. Outside hitter Kyle Gray-Phillips threw fire from the end line, giving the Hawks a commanding 19-13 lead and forcing a Condors timeout. Although Conestoga returned with a steadier offence, they could not stop Humber's firepower. Alec Loney delivered the finishing blows with a powerful spike and an ace to seal the deal 25-18.
Kyle Gray-Phillips was named the Player of the Game, scoring 10 points, five digs and two service aces.
Humber Highlights
- The Hawks improve to 29-1 all-time against Conestoga.
- Humber stands as the only undefeated team in the OCAA and one of just three collegiate teams across Canada.
- The Hawks have a perfect 16-0 record at home against the Condors.
- Humber boasts a 17-win streak against the OCAA.
- Coach Wayne Wilkins improves to 433-139 all-time at the helm.
- Humber has swept Conestoga in their last seven meetings.
- Teyven Blackmore has recorded double-digit scoring in eight matches this season.
- The Hawks sit second in the OCAA with a .362 swing percentage.
- Humber has the second-best service aces record in the province, 78.
What's next?
No. 4 Humber will travel to Windsor, Ont., to close out the first half of the season against the St. Clair Saints (2-7, 9th West) on Saturday, Nov. 30. Watch the live stream on OCAA Live and cheer on the Hawks in their final match of the year.
