Another road loss for No. 3 Men's Volleyball

LONDON - With the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) West Division title already secured, the No. 3 men's volleyball travelled to London and was defeated on Saturday night (Jan. 25) by the Fanshawe Falcons 3-1 (25-27, 25-20, 16-25, 20-25). With the loss, the Hawks now hold a 15-2 record with just one game remaining in the regular season. Despite the defeat, Humber had already earned the right to host playoff games at home, a significant advantage in pursuing a fifth consecutive provincial championship.

In a privileged position, the Hawks rested some key players, such as Teyven Blackmore and Michael McAlpine, who had been instrumental in critical moments throughout the competition. Even with a mixed lineup on the court, Humber did not make things easy for the home team. The first set was extremely close, with the lead being contested point by point. The set went into extra points after a 25-25 tie. At that moment, Fanshawe's outside hitter Tanner Paterson shone, sealing the first set with an attack point and an ace.

Determined not to lose again this season, the Hawks returned more focused in the second set. Led by an inspired Paul Manna, who scored 21 points in the match (18K and 3SA), reaching a career-high, Humber began to mount a comeback. Supported by the trio of Nathan Jager, Justin Holland, and Caleb Huot, the Hawks dominated the latter part of the set. On a service error by Evan Kirkpatrick, the visitors won 25-20 and tied the game at 1-1.

From that point on, nothing seemed to click. The Falcons appeared more determined to secure the win and picked up the pace. Fanshawe's key factor was their low error count throughout the match, with just 15 attack errors. Combined with standout performances from Zack Admans (18 points) and Tanner Paterson (14 points), who were a constant challenge for the Hawks' defence, the home team comfortably closed out the final two sets 25-15 and 25-20, sealing the 3-1 victory for the Falcons.

Match Notes

• Humber is now 26-25 all-time against Fanshawe.
• In 28 seasons at the helm, Coach Wayne Wilkins holds a career record of 441-141.
• The Hawks lead the league in assists (613) and kills (688).
• Fanshawe is now 12-4 and sits second in the division.

What's Next?

The Hawks will host the Mohawk Mountaineers at the North Campus in their final regular-season game. The match is scheduled for Thursday (Jan. 28) at 6 PM and will be streamed live on the official Humber Sports Network YouTube channel.