IT'S A GOOD THING

When the Humber Hawks and Mohawk Mountaineers meet in men's volleyball, it may just be the best entertainment value in the OCAA.

Case in point. Last Saturday, Mohawk took a two-set advantage (25-19, 25-20) and came within a couple of points of the sweep when Humber pulled out a 27-25 win in the third set. After Humber forced a deciding set with a 25-19 win, both teams had a shot at victory before the Hawks prevailed 16-14.

Veteran Humber left side Terrel Bramwell (Mississauga, Ont.) earned a match-high 28 points, equalling his season-high 26 kills while adding a pair of blocks. On the other side, Mohawk's outside hitter Charlie Hancock (North Bay, Ont.) recorded 15 kills and one service ace and block for 17 points.  

Humber also outlasted Mohawk in five sets in last March's national bronze semi-final in Moose Jaw, Sask., including a wild fourth (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 29-31, 15-11). Humber avenged a loss to Mohawk in February in the OCAA gold medal match, which also went the distance and included a wild fourth set (25-22, 16-25, 22-25, 30-28, 15-8). Four of the past five matches between these teams have gone five sets.

These teams meet again at Humber on Feb. 12.

THEN THIS HAPPENED

With the win over defending OCAA champion Mohawk, Humber was sitting at 5-0 on top of the west standings.

Then along came upstart Sheridan. The Bruins also took the Hawks to five sets, but flipped the script, with Sheridan winning (25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 19-25, 17-15) on Humber's court.

Fourth-year player Jeremy Fantin (Mississauga, Ont.) led the Bruins with 20 points, all on kills. Bramwell contributed a game-high 32 points on 30 kills and two aces in a losing effort.

After a 7-11 record last year missing the playoffs, Sheridan is now in a four-way tie with Humber, Mohawk and St. Clair for first place in the west with 5-1 marks. Only St. Clair is guaranteed a spot at the OCAA championship as tournament host.

LAST UNDEFEATED TEAM STANDING

With Humber's loss on Wednesday, the Durham Lords are now the lone undefeated team in the OCAA.

Durham has won six straight to top the east standings, only losing two sets all season. Both loses came in a five-set victory at Georgian on Nov. 7.

Lords fifth-year middle Jeremy Hoekstra (Cobourg, Ont.) is among the OCAA leaders averaging 4.0 points per set.

Durham finished last season with a 16-2 regular season record, losing in both the OCAA gold and bronze semi-finals.

REACH FOR THE TOP

Two regional foes are in a battle in a couple of key career statistical categories.

The aforementioned Bramwell has 127 points and 108 kills this season, while St. Clair fifth-year right side Jason Hernandez (Harrow, Ont.) has 98 points and 83 kills.

Bramwell now has 1,029 points and 856 kills for his OCAA career, good for second all-time in both categories. Hernandez has career totals of 1,001 points and 825 kills, good for third all-time in these categories.

The all-time record of 1,069 points and 910 kills was set by Keith Marier of La Cité last season.

TURN AROUND

Along with Sheridan, a couple of teams in the east region are on their way to improved records compared to a season ago.

With a five-set victory (25-23, 25-16, 19-25, 20-25, 15-13) over Canadore, Seneca has surpassed last season's win total of three in just their fifth match. The 4-1 Sting sit in third place in the OCAA east standings.

The 5-2 Fleming Knights are two points ahead of Seneca in second place in the standings. Fleming was 6-12 last season, and can surpass last year's win total in its two finals matches before the December break.

RECENT RESULTS

UPCOMING GAMES

Source: OCAA Communications