Men's Volleyball sweeps the Saints on seniors night
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Clair (8-8, 8-8) | 20 | 11 | 23 | 0 |
|
Humber (12-5, 12-5) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – In their final game of the 2022-23 campaign, Humber men's volleyball (13-5, 2nd West) defeated the St. Clair Saints (8-9, 7th West) in straight sets (25-20, 25-11, 25-23). With the victory, the Hawks have secured the second seed in the OCAA western division going into the post-season.
Michael McApline recorded a team-high 12 kills, while Jaydon Milne posted ten digs to lead the Hawks in the final regular season game of his collegiate career. Fellow seniors Jake Gomes and Jaydon Milne were also red-hot. Gomes led Humber in assists with 28 and co-led the team in aces with three alongside Milne.
Saturday night's game marked the Humber tradition of honouring seniors in their final career home appearance. Senior's night for men's volleyball honoured the tenures of Maximum Crowder, Jaydon Milne, Safon Manning, and Humber star Jake Gomes who broke countless records as a Hawk.
Match Recap
With Cambrian hot on their heels for second place in the OCAA western division, the Hawks were treating their final outing of the 2022-23 season as a must-win. A victory over their opponents, the St. Clair Saints, would clinch second place heading into playoffs. The Saints entered North Campus Gym red-hot, winning four of their previous five matches.
The Hawks jumped ahead to a slight lead as the first set got underway. Humber had trouble extending their advantage as the set carried on. St. Clair stayed relentless and hung with the Hawks as the scoreboard crept closer to the 25-point plateau. Although St. Clair kept it close for most of the set, they stayed in Humber's rear-view mirror. The Hawks never surrendered their lead and made it out of the first set with a victory.
After the teams traded points throughout the first 14 rallies of the second set, Humber went on an impressive 6-0 run. With the court tilted in their favour, the Hawks kept rolling and continued to grow their lead. The frustrated Saints couldn't regain their rhythm, and Humber dialled into an all-around team performance. The Hawks concluded the second frame on a 10-0 run and found themselves a set victory away from winning their senior's night match.
The Hawks picked up where they left off as the third set got underway. Humber began the set with a slight lead that slowly grew as Michael McAlpine was putting on a spiking clinic; however, St. Clair came clawing back and managed to knot the game at 21 points, setting up an exciting finish. After the Hawks made it to match point, McAlpine delivered an explosive kill that eluded the Saints and awarded Humber second seed in the west.
Humber Highlights
- Jake Gomes has finished his career third all-time in OCAA service aces.
- Michael McAlpine's 12 kills matches a season-high set back on Nov. 22 against Redeemer.
- Humber finished the 2022-23 season with a home record of 7-1.
- The Hawks improve their all-time record against the St. Clair Saints to 30-7.
What's Next?
Men's volleyball will look to defend their provincial gold medal, starting with a crossover match on Feb. 18 at the North Campus Gym. First serve is set for 3 p.m. and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
