No. 3 Men’s Volleyball stays hot with sweep over St. Clair
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Clair (3-9, 3-9) | 17 | 18 | 13 | 0 |
|
Humber (13-0, 13-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – Maintaining momentum after the holiday break can be challenging in sports. But, for No. 3 Humber men's volleyball (13-0, 1st West), the fresh year brought the same performance they displayed in 2024. The Hawks only needed three sets (25-17, 25-18, 25-13) to beat the St. Clair Saints (3-9, 8th West) on Saturday afternoon at the Hawks' Nest. Fourth-year player Teyven Blackmore paced the offence, scoring a match-high 11 kills and a match-high 15 points.
Match recap
Humber men's volleyball were back at the Hawk's Nest to play in front of their home crowd for the first time in 2025. Fresh off a strong showing at the Niagara College Invitational Tournament—where they went undefeated with wins over No. 11 Sherbrooke Vert & Or, No. 15 Georgian Grizzlies, Mohawk Mountaineers and Algonquin Wolves, dropping just two sets across four matches—the Hawks opened the second half of the season with a victory over the Redeemer Royals. On the other side of the net, the St. Clair Saints were eager for a chance to even the season series with Humber after a narrow five-set loss in their last meeting.
The first set mirrored the intensity of their previous match, with both teams locked in a tight, back-and-forth battle, neither able to get a comfortable lead. The Hawks managed to seize control mid-game, scoring consecutive points to break the Saints' momentum. An unstoppable serve by senior Nazyr Francis sent St. Clair on a timeout at 18-15. From that moment, it was all Humber. The Hawks dominated the rest of the set, returning on a commanding 7-2 run led by Teyven Blackmore's four points during the stretch. Humber clinched the set at 25-17.
Coach Wayne Wilkins' team knew the importance of securing the second set—handing it to the Saints could be the preamble of another gruelling five-set battle. The Hawks came out strong, establishing a dominant 8-3 lead that set the tone for the rest of the set. Although St. Clair chipped away the lead, narrowing the gap to 20-18, the Hawks remained composed. Blackmore delivered the finishing point to seal the deal with a 25-18 win.
The third set was a display of total dominance by the Hawks. The Saints seemed to be out of sync, struggling to find their game. Controlling both the court and the scoreboard, the Hawks demonstrated greatness. And, in an unexpected twist, setter Caleb Huot led the charge with crucial points in a commanding 25-13 victory.
Fourth-year player Kyle Gray-Phillips was named the Player of the Game, recording six kills, six digs and six points.
Humber Highlights
- Humber improves to 29-8 all-time against St. Clair.
- The Hawks are the only undefeated team in the OCAA and one of just three collegiate teams in the country.
- Humber holds a 16-4 record at the Nest against the Saints.
- The Hawks boast a 20-win streak against the OCAA.
- Coach Wayne Wilkins improves to 436-139 all-time at the helm.
- Humber has won 10 out of the last 11 matches against St. Clair.
- Teyven Blackmore sits third in the OCAA with 140 kills.
- Blackmore leads the league in service aces per set with a .74 percentage.
- The Hawks are second in the province with 108 service aces and a .356 swing percentage.
What's next?
The Hawks have one more match at home before leaving the Nest. Humber will welcome the Niagara Knights (7-5, 5th West) on Wednesday, Jan. 15, with first serve scheduled for 8 p.m. The match will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
