No. 2 Women's Volleyball sweeps Fanshawe
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fanshawe (3-8, 3-8) | 20 | 21 | 20 | 0 |
|
Humber (11-0, 11-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – Hawks' fans got to see their women's volleyball team on home court for the first time since early December. The second-ranked squad in collegiate volleyball did not let their supporters down as Humber (12-0, 1st West) cruised to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-20) victory over the Fanshawe Falcons (3-9, 8th West). The Hawks dominated their matchup and proved to their opponents and the rest of the OCAA why they are one of the best teams in Canada.
Uxbridge native Erika Dodd led the way for the Hawks with eight kills, while veteran Stephanie Armstrong topped the team in assists with 17. Second-year Sydney Ferguson posted a Humber-high four aces, and Alex Lachapelle's eight digs were the most on the team.
Match Recap
The Hawks finished 2022 with a 9-0 record and continued their red-hot play to begin 2023 by adding two more tallies in the win column. Humber swept a weekend doubleheader against Boreal and Cambrian to post their first victories of the new year. Meanwhile, Fanshawe is still looking for a win in 2023. The Falcons ended last year on a high note by winning three straight; however, they fell in their first two games upon coming back from the December break.
The opening rally of the match ended with the Hawks picking up the set's first point. Although Humber began the game with four unanswered points, Fanshawe was on top of their game and stayed within four points through 20 rallies. With motivation from the roars of their fans, the Hawks broke out and hurdled ahead to an eight-point cushion after a 10-3 run. The Falcons made a late run, but it was too much for them to overcome, and Humber won the first set, 25-20.
After some early game jitters, the Fanshawe Falcons showed the Hawks and their fans that they wouldn't be overlooked. Fanshawe took an early lead two-point lead and held their advantage until Humber knotted the set at seven. Although the Hawks eventually took the lead, they couldn't run away with it as the teams traded points late into the set. As the scoreboard read 18-17 for Humber, the court tilted in favour of the home side and the Hawks closed out the set on a 7-4 run.
Fanshawe could taste victory in the second set but failed to end strong. The Falcons knew they needed a win to stay alive, and they brought a winning attitude to begin the third set. Humber's opponents jumped ahead to their biggest lead of the game after starting the set on a 13-6 run. The resilient Hawks didn't give up and came soaring back after a strategic timeout. After several exciting rallies, Humber tied the game at 14 points with outstanding team play. The teams traded points late into the set; however, the Hawks had more gas in the tank and secured their 12th straight victory with a 25-20 third-set win.
Humber Highlights
- Humber has now won 16 straight regular-season games dating back to the 2021-22 season.
- Home court has been the Hawks' best friend as they haven't lost at North Campus Gym since Nov. 15, 2019, against Fanshawe.
- Humber improves their all-time record against Fanshawe to 39-7.
- Erika Dodd and Ara Telan sit fourth and fifth, respectively, in OCAA hitting percentage.
- Stephanie Armstrong's 8.17 assists per set put her second on the OCAA leaderboard.
What's Next?
No. 2 Humber women's volleyball will be looking for their 13th straight victory when they battle the Mohawk Mountaineers on Jan. 26. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. at North Campus Gym and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
