No. 2 Women's Volleyball rolls to quarter-final victory over Niagara
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Niagara | 16 | 16 | 14 | 0 |
|
Humber | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications
OAKVILLE – No. 2 Humber women's volleyball earned a spot in the semifinals with a straight-set sweep over the Niagara Knights (12-8, 4th West) in the OCAA quarter-final round, 3-0. The set scores were 25-16, 25-16, and 25-14.
The Hawks improved to 16-0 in the quarter-final round to inch closer to their OCAA-best 12th provincial title. Humber took control of the match from the get-go and overpowered their opponents in all aspects of the game.
Hannah Manners posted a team-high 11 kills, while Stephanie Armstrong had 25 assists to lead the Hawks. Alex Lachapelle had eight digs to lead the way for Humber, and OCAA Player of the Year Erika Dodd had two aces to top the squad.
Match Recap
After a quick three-set victory over Loyalist in their postseason opener, Humber began to prepare for its quarterfinal matchup with their sights set on defending the OCAA gold medal. Their quarterfinal opponents, the Niagara Knights, are a familiar foe for the Hawks as the teams met twice in the regular. Humber won both outings in straight sets.
The Hawks had a shaky start to the match as they struggled to find their tempo leading Humber to play from behind early on. The team fought back and took their first lead of the set after the 11th rally. Niagara's tenacity kept them close for much of the set, but Humber proved why they are a top-ranked team in the nation as they secured a first-frame victory with little trouble.
As the second set got underway, it was almost identical to the first. The Hawks looked unenergetic to begin the second frame, but this time around, they recovered quickly and never looked back. Niagara's failure to run away with two early leads led to their motivation being shattered. The Hawks never looked back and rolled over the Knights in the second set.
Humber went on a 3-0 run to begin the final frame and take their first early lead of the match. Niagara managed to inch back to within one, but Humber dominated as they went on a 7-2 run to put the game out of Niagara's reach. The Hawks cruised to a third-set victory and secured their spot in the provincial semifinals.
Humber posted 30 kills, 27 assists, five aces, and 21 digs through the three-set showdown. Alex Lachapelle was named player of the game after leading the Hawks with an outstanding performance, recording eight digs and two assists.
Humber Highlights
- Coach Wilkins improves to 61-8 (.884) in OCAA postseason play.
- The Hawks have advanced passed the OCAA quarterfinals in every season since 1995-96.
- Humber has won five straight OCAA postseason matches.
- The Hawks improved to 6-0 against Niagara in the postseason, 37-0 all-time.
What's Next?
No. 2 Humber will be back in action tomorrow for a semifinal matchup against Seneca (16-4, 2nd East). First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The OCAA Championship website can be found here.
