No. 3 Women’s Volleyball downs Cambrian to extend win streak

By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications

ETOBICOKE – On its second home game of the weekend, No. 3 Humber women's volleyball (15-0, 1st West) won a statement match over the Cambrian Golden Shield (5-10, 7th West) in three sets (25-7, 25-13, 25-19), extending its win-streak to impressive 15 games. Vancouver native Leah Serlin paced the offence for the Hawks, recording a game-high eight kills, while setter Sydney Ferguson had eyes on everyone on the court, providing 20 assists.

Match Recap  

Less than 24 hours after dominating the Boréal Vipères, the Hawks returned to the Nest to face the Cambrian Golden Shield. Cambrian arrived at the Hawks' Nest to get back in the winning column after falling to the Sheridan Bruins the previous day. 

Humber, though, was determined to stay undefeated in the season; the Hawks' wings demonstrated razor-sharp precision, starting with a formidable offence to penetrate Cambrian's golden shield. While Humber's service team was on fire with an ace from fourth-year player Keyome Ellis and back-to-back aces from Vancouver-born Leah Serlin, the Hawks were the real golden shield in this game, with rookie Kennedy Williscroft denying Cambrian's attack to set Humber up 7-1. The Golden Shield would call a timeout to stop all-star Erika Dodd from recording aces, but Cassidy Andrews would return to continue her teammate's acing parade. The Hawks would flap their wings faster, increasing power and securing a ruthless 25-7 set win. 

Cambrian knew they had to find a way to stop the Hawks' intimidating offence if they wanted something in this game, keeping a neck-to-neck second set as the score read 9-7. Cambrian's golden strategies met their match as Te-Anna Stephenson and Erika Dodd made a strong push, grabbing seven kills together and turning Cambrian into a shattered golden shield. Cambrian could not find its best performance and would see Humber secure the set victory 25-13. 

Even with two numbers ahead on the score, the Hawks would not slow down in the third set. Middle blocker Karolina Urbanovich still had enough gas in the tank, staying hot from the end line with heated aces and pacing the offence for Humber early in the third with three kills as the score read 13-7. Cambrian would raise its golden shield to cut the lead down to four with Humber up 23-19, but Cassidy Andrews would fly high to stop any ball from entering the Hawks' side. 

Humber would mimic the result from the previous day against the Boreal Vipères, making quick work of the Cambrian Golden Shield and closing the game with a 25-19 set win. 

Left side Cassidy Andrews was named the Hawks Player of the Game, grabbing four kills, two solo blocks and a career-high five aces.

Humber Highlights

• Humber extends its win streak to 18 consecutive matches against OCAA opponents.
• Rookie Caitlyn Labelle now leads the conference with a .371 swing percentage.
• The Hawks improve to 34-15 all-time against Cambrian.

What's Next?

No. 3 Humber will host the Sheridan Bruins (4-10, 8th West) on Jan. 24. The match will start at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.