Redemption for Men's Volleyball against Redeemer
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Redeemer (10-7, 10-7) | 18 | 24 | 18 | 0 |
|
Humber (11-5, 11-5) | 25 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – Humber men's volleyball (12-5, 2nd West) have won their third straight match after defeating the Redeemer Royals (10-8, 5th West) in straight sets (25-18, 26-24, 25-18). The Hawks cruised through the opening set and showed more of the same dominance in the match's final set. The Royals nearly took the second set, but Humber's perseverance helped them push through aggressive, offensive pressure from their opponents.
First-year Michael McAlpine led Humber with 11 kills, while veteran Jake Gomes posted a team-high 31 assists and co-led alongside Jaydon Milne in service aces with two. Alex Segui also had an impressive outing as his 15 digs topped the Hawks.
Match Recap
With the Hawks in their special pink jerseys to commemorate breast cancer awareness, the team was ready to take on the Redeemer Royals, who rank seventh in the province. The squads were each riding a two-game win streak coming into Thursday's clash, and they both knew that a win would be crucial in the division standings.
The very first point of the match went the way of the Redeemer Royals, but they weren't ready for what Humber had in store. After the first rally, the Hawks went on a 7-1 run that saw them gain momentum in the set. Redeemer hung within four points of Humber as the teams began to trade points. As the teams inched closer to match point, the Hawks began to pull away, and a Michael McAlpine block eluded the Royals to award Humber the first set.
Redeemer flipped the script as the second set got underway. They began the set on a 6-3 run which stunned the Hawks' Nest due to Humber's dominance in the opening frame. The Hawks couldn't seem to cut into the Royals three-point cushion as the set progressed. With the scoreboard reading 22-19 in favour of Redeemer, Humber knew they needed to make a late push. A 5-2 Humber run knotted the set at 24, setting up an exciting finish. After Humber claimed the following the rally, Jake Gomes won his team the set with an accurate service ace that dazed the Royals.
The final set saw the teams' trade points through the first ten rallies. Humber knew they needed to find their rhythm as they were aware of their opponent's capabilities after an impressive effort in the second set. As the Hawks managed to string together unanswered points, they hurdled ahead to a five-point advantage after a 12-5 run. Humber never looked back and cruised to a victory in the final frame, which awarded them their 12th win of the season.
The Hawks posted 39 kills, 35 assists, seven aces, and 49 digs as a team. With only one regular season game left on the calendar, Humber is guaranteed to finish second in the OCAA western division with a win in their final outing. If the Hawks lose and the Cambrian Golden Shield wins their last two games of the season, Humber will close out their campaign in third place.
Humber Highlights
- On Feb. 5, head coach Wayne Wilkins won his 400th game as Humber's bench boss in a tilt with the Sheridan Bruins. He currently holds a 401-130 record.
- Gabriel Mendes is sitting second in the OCAA with a hitting percentage of .379, while Jake Gomes is fifth in assists per set with 8.03.
- After a shaky start to the season, the Hawks have rebounded and are currently 7-1 since the beginning of the new year.
- Humber has won nine straight sets over their three-game win streak. They last lost a set on Jan. 28 in a loss to Conestoga.
- The Hawks' all-time record against the Redeemer Royals now stands at 34-18.
What's Next?
Humber men's volleyball will be back at North Campus on Feb. 11 to conclude the 2022-23 regular season against the St. Clair Saints (8-8, 7th West). First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
