No. 3 Women's Volleyball golden again

By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications

ETOBICOKE – One, two, three, four, five… you would need more than just your fingers to count how many OCAA gold medals No. 3 Humber women's volleyball have around their neck. And if you really want to tally them all, you will need both hands—and then some more. Since taking the helm in 2002, head coach Chris Wilkins has built this program on three pillars: dominance, perfection and gold—17 times over. 

The Hawks barely broke a sweat this season. Another perfect 22-0 record, dropping just six sets along the way, made their fourth-straight provincial title feel like destiny, scripted in a way. Many names can be highlighted for their unreal stats. Hannah Manners and Amy Connelly hammering from the outside, Williscroft commanding the offence, Amanda Larsen owning the net, and Reese Cholette diving for every dig. But behind them all, a roster 17 names deep, each player leaving their mark, and a coaching staff committed to nothing short of greatness. 

In their fifth consecutive OCAA championship appearance, the No. 3 Humber women's volleyball (22-0) delivered another masterclass in dominance, defeating the No. 11 St. Clair Saints (19-3) in four sets (25-19, 22-25, 25-15, 25-16) to claim their 19th OCAA title. 

Another banner, another chapter in their dynasty. Now, history is waiting to be made on the national stage. 

Match Recap 

That was it. Twenty-one games, countless kills and thrilling highlights all led to this defining moment. The 2025 OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship match had arrived. 

With head coach Chris Wilkins at the helm, the Hawks stood on the brink of history once again, chasing their 19th provincial gold medal and further solidifying their legacy. But across the net, the St. Clair Saints had their own story to write. Back in the championship match for the first time since 1997 and the Saints were hungry for a shot at their second OCAA gold medal. 

The Hawks Nest was a sea of blue and green as Humber and St. Clair fans packed the stands. Feeding off the energy of their home crowd, the Hawks put on a strong performance in the first set. While Humber is often known for its dominant outside hitters, it was their serving staff that stole the show. Amanda Larsen, Caitlyn Labelle and Hannah Manners combined for five aces, setting Humber to a commanding 22-14 lead. With the set point on the line, Averi Bodnar stepped up to serve, her ball clipping the net and dropping in for an ace to seal the set 25-19. 

All season long, teams had watched Humber take control after winning the first set, but the Saints did not back down. St. Clair came out firing in the second, quickly jumping ahead 20-16 with a magic performance from Ashley Maleyko, who racked up three kills, and Haleigh Kearns, who kept Humber on edge with her serving. The Hawks fought back to cut the deficit to 24-22, but the Saints managed to close out the set 25-22 to even the match. 

As the third set got underway, the home crowd rallied behind the Hawks, and their energy translated onto the court. Humber was unstoppable. Amy Connelly hammered six kills while Larsen and Kennedy Williscroft teamed up for a double block that shut down the set, 25-15. 

In the fourth set, both teams struggled with service errors early, keeping the score tight at 8-8. But when pressure mounted, Humber's stars delivered. Connelly, Labelle and Manners took control and led the Hawks to the match point. With the championship within reach, Labelle stepped to the service line. Her serve kissed the net, forcing a scrambling St. Clair dig attempt, but the ball hit the floor. 25-16. The Hawks celebrated as the Nest roared. 

With their 15th OCAA title in 17 years, Humber women's volleyball and head coach Chris Wilkins continues to build a legacy that might just be worthy of a history lesson one day. 

Player of the Game 

• Amy Connelly 

Tournament All-Stars 

• Reese Cholette
• Caitlyn Labelle 

Tournament MVP 

• Hannah Manners 

Humber Highlights

• Humber improves to 19-6 in the OCAA gold medal match.
• The Hawks lead the OCAA with 19 provincial titles.
• Women's volleyball now has 29 OCAA medals in stock through 39 seasons.
• Humber improves to 42-11 all-time against St. Clair.
• The Hawks extend their postseason win streak to 16 matches.
• Humber holds 49 consecutive wins against the OCAA, dating back to Feb. 11, 2023.
• The Hawks finish the provincial season as one of just two undefeated teams in Canada, alongside the No. 1 Lakeland Rustlers.
• The Hawks improve to 94-28 all-time in the OCAA postseason
• Head coach Chris Wilkins boasts a 71-8 all-time OCAA playoff record and a 456-62 all-time overall record.

What's Next?

No. 3 Humber now sets its sights on the 2025 CCAA Women's Volleyball Championship, hosted by the Durham Lords in Oshawa, Ont. Despite their dominance in the OCAA, the Hawks continue their pursuit of a historic first national gold medal. 

The big stage will run from March 5 to March 8, and Humber's schedule is yet to be released. Fans can catch the action live on CCAA Live. Keep an eye on humberhawks.ca for more updates.