Men's Volleyball books a spot in the national final Saturday

By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications

ETOBICOKE – In an exciting CCAA semifinal matchup, Humber men's volleyball secured an impressive victory against the Volontaires de Sherbrooke in four sets (25-17, 18-25, 25-16, 25-23). The Hawks' performance earned them a place in the gold medal match, where they will have the chance to be crowned national champions for the second time in program history. 

Throughout the game, the Hawks showcased their dominance, particularly in the first and third sets, where they completely outplayed Sherbrooke. However, Sherbrooke fought back in the second set, dominating to take the only set they won. In the fourth set, Sherbrooke had the lead for much of the set, but the Humber Hawks refused to give up and came from behind to secure the win. 

Veteran Jake Gomes had yet another red-hot appearance as he led the Hawks with 38 assists and five aces. Teyven Blackmore posted a team-high six digs, while player of the match Michael McAlpine recorded 13 kills to lead his squad to a national final. 

Match Recap

The Humber Hawks were all geared up for their CCAA semifinal matchup against the RSEQ Champions, the Volontaires de Sherbrooke. In the national quarter-finals, Humber easily defeated their opponent in three sets, while Sherbrooke fought a long five-set battle to secure their spot in the semifinal. Both teams finished the regular season with similar records. 

Humber was ready as their home fans were out in full force, cheering them on as they looked to secure a spot in the championship game. As the opening frame got underway, the teams began to trade points. The scoreboard showed a tie game through the first 18 rallies as the tight match was neck-and-neck. The court tilted in the Hawks' favour as they hurdled ahead to a slight lead after a 5-1 run. Sherbrooke was forced to call a timeout to regroup, but the Hawks didn't slow down and grew their lead late into the set. Humber ran away with a dominant first-frame victory, putting pressure on the Volontaires. 

The Hawks started the second set strong, yet Sherbrooke came soaring back to take an early three-point advantage. The squad from Quebec held their multi-point cushion to the middle of the set but could never grow their lead to more than three points. Head coach Wayne Wilkins called a timeout as Humber couldn't close the gap and tie the game. Sherbrooke extended their lead out of the timeout and stayed in the driver's seat. The Volontaires closed out the set with a victory, tying the match 1-1. 

The Hawks' Nest went quiet after Sherbrooke knotted the match, but it wasn't long before Humber got their supporters back on their feet. Humber quickly forgot their second-set woes and took an early lead after an 8-3 run. The teams began to trade points, allowing the Hawks to maintain their advantage. Humber knew they needed to hang on while their opponents sought to regain their rhythm. Backed by an energetic home crowd, the OCAA Champions went a late 7-2 run that wiped away any hope of a Volontaires' comeback. Humber claimed a third-frame win, putting themselves only a set victory away from a guaranteed CCAA medal. 

With a CCAA final only 25 points away, Humber wanted the fourth set to be the last of the match. Sherbrooke, however, was on the brink of elimination, and they weren't going down without a fight. The Volontaires began the frame on an 11-5 run, giving them control of the set. The Hawks slowly cut into their opponent's lead, but Sherbrooke held a slight advantage. Humber narrowed their deficit to one point on multiple occasions but couldn't tie the game until late in the set. The teams began to trade points as match point was on the horizon, but the Hawks found themselves at 24 points first. After Jaydon Milne blasted an explosive kill past the Volontaires, Humber claimed a semifinal win and earned themselves a spot in the CCAA gold medal match on home court. 

Rookie Michael McAlpine was named Humber's player of the game to cap off his impressive outing. When asked about this Saturday's CCAA championship match, he stated, "I'm ready. We're full of confidence after that win, and we can't wait." 

Over the four-set outing, Humber recorded 51 kills, 42 assists, 11 service aces, and 26 digs in an all-around team effort. 

Humber Highlights

• Humber will have the chance to become the second men's volleyball team in CCAA history to win a national championship on home court (Mount Royal - 1994).
• The Hawks will be heading to their third CCAA final and their first since 2020. Head coach Wayne Wilkins has coached Humber to every national final in program history.
• Humber improves their all-time CCAA semifinal record to 3-2.
• When playing RSEQ opponents, the Hawks are now 3-6. Two of the three wins have come against Sherbrooke. 

What's Next?

Humber men's volleyball will gear up to play on the biggest stage in CCAA men's volleyball. Mark your calendars for 7 p.m. on March 11: the Hawks will look to defend their home court in the national final against the defending national champions, the Camosun Chargers. The gold medal match will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.