No. 3 Men's Volleyball team secures ninth sweep of the season

By: Thiago Neuenschwander
Humber Athletics Communications

ANCASTER - The seasons may have changed, but nothing has shifted in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men's volleyball tournament. The No. 3 team in the country remains unstoppable. On Wednesday night (Jan. 8), the Hawks achieved their 12th consecutive victory in the competition, further solidifying their lead in the West Division. The 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-14) win against the Redeemer Royals at the Athletic Centre Gymnasium in Ancaster marked their ninth sweep of the year. With this triumph, head coach Wayne Wilkins' squad reaffirms its dominance in the division, while the Royals now hold a 5-7 record.

The match began as a close contest, with both teams alternating leads throughout much of the first set. The Royals tried to capitalize on their home-court advantage to impose their rhythm and end the Hawks' unbeaten streak, with the visitors having dropped only four sets all season. Despite the competitive start, the visitors found their groove and opened up a lead, thanks in large part to the powerful attacks of outside hitter Teyven Blackmore, who finished the game with 11 kills and 16 points, and middle Michael McAlpine (3K, 5SA). A three-meter line attack by Blackmore sealed the first set at 25-16.

In the second set, the Royals went all-in but faced a solid and well-organized opponent on the other side of the net. Ben Siebenga, Jack Demik, and Caleb Joosse stood out as the most effective players for the home team. The trio tried everything to break through the Hawks' defence, but their efforts were in vain. The visitors maintained the lead throughout most of the second set, dashing the hopes of the local crowd. A service point by the Hawks ended the set at 25-22.

With a commanding lead, the West Division leaders only needed to maintain their rhythm to secure the 3-0 victory. The final set was a mere formality. The Royals committed several errors, particularly in their serves, allowing the Hawks to open up a ten-point lead (20-10). By then, the home team's chances of turning the game around were slim, and the Navy and Gold faced little resistance in closing out the match at 25-14 with two consecutive block points. The road win injects fresh energy into the team as the regular season approaches its final stretch.

Humber Highlights

• Humber stands as the only undefeated team in the OCAA.
• Humber boasts a 19-match win streak in the OCAA.
• Coach Wayne Wilkins improves to an all-time record of 435-139.
• Teyven Blackmore leads the OCAA with 0.71 service aces per set.
• Humber has the second-best service ace record in the province, with 99.
• The Hawks have only conceded four sets this season

What's Next?

Following the win over the Royals, the Hawks return for their first home game of the winter. Next Saturday, the team will host the St. Clair Saints at the Humber Athletic Centre, North Campus, to defend their unbeaten record. The first serve is scheduled for 4 PM. The game will be streamed live on the official Humber Sports Network YouTube channel.