No. 4 Women's Volleyball hand Mohawk first loss

By: Thiago Neuenschwander
Humber Athletics Communications

HAMILTON - The Humber Hawks women's volleyball team remains unstoppable in the West Division of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Associations (OCAA). On Friday night (Nov 15), Chris Wilkins' squad travelled to Hamilton to defend their unbeaten record and did not disappoint. With a dominant performance, they gave no chance to the Mohawk Mountaineers and won the match 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, and 25-20). With this result, the Navy and Gold solidified their lead in their conference with an 8-0 record, making significant strides toward securing the top spot in their division.

Match Recap

The Hawks and Mountaineers entered the match with perfect 7-0 records, and this game would make it clear to the rest of the OCAA who is in the hunt for this year's title. The David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre (DBARC) was packed, and despite the Mountaineers home-court advantage, the Hawks made it clear from the start that they meant business. The first set was a real walkover. Hannah Manners (9K, 2SA, and 3BS) and Caitlyn Labelle (7K, 1SA, and 1BS) were exceptional in the wing attacks, while veteran Amanda Larsen (5K and 3BS) dominated the middle, with quick attacks and impenetrable blocks. The result was a swift 25-12 win, which dampened the home crowd's spirits.

After this impressive start, the Hawks eased up but maintained control of the match. Despite the home team's improvement in the second set, the game always leaned towards the Navy and Gold, currently ranked No. 4 in the country. Besides Labelle, Manners, and Larsen, who set the pace of the match in first set, Rachel Vanderwal (3K, 2SA, and 2BS) and Amy Connelly (10K and 3SA) also contributed decisively with service points, middle attacks, and crucial blocks to secure the second set win at 25-19. A slightly tighter second set, but still very consistent for the Hawks.

In the third set, the Mountaineers went all out, believing they could halt the good momentum of Chris Wilkins' team. It was the most competitive set of the match, with both teams taking turns leading from the start. The balance was such that the score was tied 13 times until it reached 19-19. At this critical moment, the visitors' strong defensive and offensive balance made the difference. The Hawks achieved a brilliant sequence of points, closing the match with a diagonal attack by Amy Connelly to seal the 3-0 victory and the top spot in the OCAA West Division.

Highlights

• Humber extends its win streak to 35 against the OCAA. The Hawks' last loss came in the 2022-23 season against the Royals (0-3).
• The Hawks have conceded just one set in eight games this year (against Cambrian).
• Humber leads the conference in swing percentage (.294) and points per set (17.6).
• Amanda Larsen is second in blocks per set (0.95), and Hannah Manners is third in aces (24) in the OCAA.
• Humber leads the West Division (8-0) with 16 points. Seneca (9-0) leads the East Division with 18 points. The other unbeaten team in the competition is the St. Clair Saints, second in the West Division, with a 6-0 record.

What's Next?

The Hawks return to North Campus next Saturday, November 23, to face the Fanshawe Falcons. The first serve is scheduled for 1:00 PM, and the game will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.