OCAA women's volleyball final four goes through Humber
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cambrian (1-1, 9-9) | 14 | 15 | 20 | 0 |
|
Humber (2-0, 18-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – It has been 22 years since No. 3 Humber women's volleyball (20-0, 1st West) last lost to the Cambrian Golden Shield (10-10, 5th West) at the Hawks' Nest. On Saturday afternoon, the Shield's hopes of ending the streak were put on hold for another season as Humber eliminated Cambrian in straight sets (25-14, 25-15, 25-20) to advance to the OCAA final four. With the win, the Hawks remain part of an elite group as one of just two undefeated teams in Canada, alongside the No. 1 Lakeland Rustlers. Amanda Larsen and Caitlyn Labelle led the Humber's offence, each scoring 10 points, while Labelle also contributed defensively with a team-high nine digs.
Match Recap
The OCAA quarterfinals were set to begin and brought more than just playoff intensity to the Hawks' Nest—it carried the weight of history. Humber had defended its home court against Cambrian for 22 years, and with a spot in the OCAA final four on the line, the Golden Shield were eager to break the streak.
Fresh off a dominant qualifying-round win over the Loyalist Lancers, the Hawks entered as heavy favourites. Humber's roster boasted multiple OCAA award winners, led by Kennedy Williscroft, the first setter in program history to earn Player of the Year honours. Hannah Manners and Amy Connelly joined Williscroft as first-team all-stars, while Amanda Larsen and Reese Cholette secured second-team all-star selections—Cholette for the second straight season. Head coach Chris Wilkins was named West Division Coach of the Year for the first time since 2009, despite the staggering 299-16 and 12 provincial titles during that span.
However, Cambrian was not just another opponent. The Golden Shield rode the momentum of a road playoff win over the Algonquin Wolves, had two first-team all-stars and arrived determined to break the 22-year streak.
The crowd held their breath as Cambrian stormed into the opening set with a quick 3-0 run. The Hawks' players looked at each other, stayed composed and regrouped on the floor, rallying to level the game at 4-4. Humber found its rhythm midway through the set, led by a dominant double block from Amanda Larsen and Kennedy Williscroft, followed by a pinpoint ace from Larsen. Building momentum, the Hawks jumped ahead 14-9 and never looked back, dictating the pace before closing out the set with a 25-14 victory.
Despite the few early struggles in the first set, Humber returned to the second in complete control. Williscroft set the tone from the service line, landing back-to-back aces that forced Cambrian into an early timeout as the Hawks jumped to a 6-1 lead. Service errors plagued Cambrian throughout the set, allowing Humber to stay comfortably ahead while their offence spread the scoring. Rachael O'Dell was unstoppable, scoring points from all angles—aces, kills and a solo block—while Lauren Bannister came up clutch late in the set to seal a 25-15 win.
Desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive, Cambrian showed resilience in the third set, keeping pace early at 6-6. However, their attack lacked the firepower needed to break through. On the other hand, Humber's offence has been firepower all season long. Amy Connelly was lethal from the outside, and Larsen stood tall by the net, helping Humber seize control. The Golden Shield managed to trim the deficit to four at 24-20, but an attacking error sealed their downfall.
The Hawks swept the Golden Shield, extending their 22-year streak at the Nest, and are now set to host the 2025 OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship.
Left side Caitlyn Labelle was named the Player of the Game, recording a game-high 10 points, which included eight kills, and a team-high nine digs.
Humber Highlights
- Humber improves to 37-15 all-time against Cambrian.
- The Hawks have not lost to the Golden Shield on home court in 22 years, dating back to 2003.
- Humber has won seven straight games against Cambrian since the 2022-23 season.
- The Hawks extend their OCAA postseason streak to 14 straight victories.
- Humber has won 47 consecutive matches against OCAA opponents, dating back to Feb. 11, 2023.
- The Hawks are one of just two undefeated teams in Canada, alongside the No. 1 Lakeland Rustlers.
- Head coach Chris Wilkins boasts a 69-8 all-time OCAA playoff record and a 454-62 all-time overall record.
- Wilkins' West Division Coach of the Year award is his first honour since 2009.
- Kennedy Williscroft has become the first Humber setter to be named the conference player of the year. Williscroft also joins Caroline Fletcher (2000) as the only setters in team history to receive CCAA All-Canadian selection.
- Reese Cholette has been awarded second-team all-star for the second straight season.
What's Next?
As the top-seeded team in the West division, Humber will host the 2025 OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship from Feb. 21 to Feb. 22. In the semifinal, the Hawks will face the Niagara Knights (13-6, 3rd West) on Friday, Feb. 21. The first serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. All championship games will be streamed live on OCAA Live. For updates, visit humberhawks.ca.
