No. 2 Women's Volleyball makes quick work of Redeemer
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Redeemer (8-9, 8-9) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
Humber (16-0, 16-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – No. 2 Humber women's volleyball (17-0, 1st West) improved their win streak to 17 games Thursday night after defeating the Redeemer Royals (8-9, 6th West) in straight sets (25-19, 25-17, 25-22). The red-hot Hawks were on cruise control for most of the match as their opponents stood virtually no chance. The Royals made things interesting in the third set, but Humber was too much to handle and proved once again why they are one of the best teams in Canadian collegiate volleyball.
Uxbridge native Erika Dodd led the Hawks with seven kills, while fifth-year setter Stephanie Armstrong racked up a team-high 26 assists. Cassidy Andrews had an impressive match serving the ball as her four aces topped the team, and Alex Lachapelle's eight digs were a Humber best.
Match Recap
The Hawks clinched first place in the OCAA western division after a dominating victory in their last outing against the Sheridan Bruins. Although Thursday's game against the Royals had no factor in divisional standings, Humber has been battling the Durham Lords all season for provincial supremacy. Durham lost their first game of the season on Feb. 1, leaving the door open for the Hawks to claim the top spot in Ontario.
Humber had a slow start to the opening frame as they found themselves trailing by three early in the set. The Royals' advantage was short-lived as the Hawks went on a dominating 11-4 run that saw the court tilt in their favour. Although Redeemer found themselves hanging with Humber, the Hawks managed to seal the deal and secure a convincing first-set win.
The Hawks knew they needed a better start to the second set. With fans at the Hawks' Nest on their feet, Humber built off the energy and hurdled ahead to a commanding eight-point cushion after a 12-4 run to begin the frame. Redeemer got as close as five points to tying the Hawks, but Humber's determination helped them coast to another easy set victory.
The third set saw the Hawks jump out to an early lead after beginning the frame on a 5-1 run, but Redeemer was determined as they knew this set was a must-win. The Royals found themselves trailing by a hefty eight-point margin as Humber was only five points away from sweeping the match; however, Redeemer went on a 10-4 run that put them only two points behind the Hawks. The Royals' offensive push was too little, too late, as the Hawks were on match point. An explosive spike from Megan Hunt eluded the Royals, and Humber clinched their 17th victory of the season.
The Hawks posted 32 kills, 31 assists, nine aces, and 42 digs as a unit. With the regular season nearing its conclusion, Humber is guaranteed to finish first in the western division. If the Hawks win their final game of the season, they will clinch top spot in the provincial rankings.
Humber Highlights
- Humber is one win away from their 14th perfect season in program history. Their last perfect season was in 2017-18.
- As a team, the Hawks sit atop the OCAA in hitting percentage, assists, and kills.
- Over the last three seasons, Humber has only lost three sets to Redeemer in five games. They won every matchup since 2019-20 (2020-21 cancelled due to COVID-19).
- The Hawks' all-time record against the Redeemer Royals now stands at 34-18.
What's Next?
No. 2 Humber women's volleyball will close out the 2022-23 season on Feb. 11 against a difficult opponent in the St. Clair Saints (13-3, 2nd West). First serve is slated for 6 p.m. at North Campus Gym and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
