HAWKS HOST LA CITE SATURDAY IN VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFF CROSSOVER
ETOBICOKE, ON: The OCAA has instituted a new playoff format this year, one that forces the first and second place teams in each division to earn their way to the Final 8 Championship by winning a crossover playoff game. Previously, byes to the championship dance were passed on to the host and the top ranking teams in each division.
The new format is set up to still give the outward look of an advantage to the higher ranked teams, as the top team in one division fill match up with the lowest ranked playoff club in the other. The intent is to bring the true top eight teams to the year-end tournament, regardless of the division they play in.
In the case of the Humber Hawks, they will enter the playoffs as the first place and division champions in the West. La Cite, who placed eighth in the East Division will travel from Ottawa with a chance to upset a number one team and earn a place in the OCAA Final 8.
THE MATCH UP
OCAA Playoff Crossover
La Cite "COYOTES" @ Humber "HAWKS"
4-14, 8th East 18-0, 1st West
Saturday, February 17/18
12:00 noon
Humber Athletic Centre – Etobicoke
LAST TIME OUT
Playing their last regular season on home court, the Hawks swept away the second place Fanshawe Falcons 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-21). Two Hawks, Breanna Golding and Nicole Collard, scored 10 points on the night. Meghan Morelli led the Falcons, with eight points.
LAST TIME OUT VS LA CITE
This will be the first time that these teams have met regular season or playoff competition.
SCOUTING LA CITE
- Although their record may be lopsided towards the loss column, the Coyotes have played well in the second half. They have won3 of their nine matches, including a couple of clutch wins late to secure the playoff berth
- In the team statistic rankings, La Cite's averages and season record mirror each other. They rank anywhere from 16 to 20 in most categories
- Ariane Proulx is their leading scorer and checks in with a respectable mark of 2.7 points per set average. After Proulx, the scoring drops off considerably, with no Coyote player scoring above the 2.0 mark
- The setting has been split almost down the middle. Marilou Charron leads the team with 197 assists, while Anne-Sophie Henrie checks in with 154 helpers
HAWK NOTES
- This is the first time Humber has to play a play-in game for the playoffs in many, many years, dating back to the early 2000's
- The Hawks continue to be amongst the leaders of every team statistical category, topping out as number one in kills per set, hitting percentage and aces per set
- Breanna Golding completed another fine season, finishing with an average of 4.4 points per set, which places her in second of the league leaders. Brynee Coleman and Devan O'Connor just dropped slightly below the 3.0 mark
- Alex Bartman has been getting most of the setting duties lately, but Celine Blanchette still leads in overall assists and assists per set. The two have combined to place second in the league in assists per set (10.31)
HISTORY WATCH
- With every win, Chris Wilkins pads his all-time Humber Hawk coaching wins record, which now sits at 335
- Devan O'Connor fell just shy of 400 points for her career, ending with 399
- Kyla Wilkins moved up to third all-time in digs, with 412
- Breanna Golding has the third best career points per set average in Hawk history, checking in at 4.2 pps
WATCH LIVE
The game will be streamed "LIVE" on the Humber Sports Network – HSN. CLICK HERE for the link
