Perfect first half for No. 2 Women's Volleyball
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sheridan (1-7, 1-7) | 12 | 25 | 24 | 0 |
|
Humber (8-0, 8-0) | 25 | 27 | 26 | 3 |
By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – No. 2 Humber women's volleyball (9-0, 1st West) continued their perfect season Thursday night after dominating the Sheridan Bruins (1-8, 9th West) in straight sets (25-12, 27-25, 26-24). Humber's home court clash against their rivals marked their ninth consecutive win to begin the 2022-23 campaign. The Hawks cruised in the first set but were given a challenge in the following sets; however, the second-ranked team in the nation pulled together to maintain their unbeaten record. Alexandria Dube and Te-Anna Stephenson led the squad in scoring, finishing with ten points each.
Match Recap
In the first set, Sheridan struggled to find their footing from the get-go, and the red-hot Hawks pounced on the opportunity to take a commanding lead. Everything went right for Humber in the opening set, and they jumped ahead to a double-digit lead after 30 rallies to throw Sheridan's hopes of a set win to the side. The Hawks closed out the set with little trouble and won by a dominant 13-point margin, yet the Bruins were ready to push for a comeback.
Almost all of the second set included the scoreboard indicating a tie game on the court. The thrilling set included back-and-forth action that saw the teams produce entertaining rallies while trading points. After ten rallies, neither team could reach more than a two-point cushion. The Bruins saved themselves from on set point twice, but the Hawks had fuel left in the tank to close out and secured their second set win on their 27th point.
The final set produced more electrifying energy on the court, which gifted Hawks' fans at North Campus Gym an exhilarating conclusion to the match. The third set reflected the back-and-forth nature of the second; however, a missed opportunity from Humber almost sent the game to a fourth set. The Hawks led 22-18 with momentum on their side, but the feisty Bruins weren't ready to give up. Sheridan went on a 6-2 run that notched the game at 24 points a side. With the roars from the bleachers raining down, the Hawks broke their slump and went on to win the following two points and tally their ninth straight victory.
Third-year veteran Alexandria Dube was lights-out as she led the Hawks in kills with seven and services aces with three. Oakville-native Reese Cholette posted a team-high 11 digs, while setter Stephanie Armstrong continued to do her job on the court as she recorded 29 assists to top the squad.
Humber Highlights
- The game's 52-point second set marked the Hawks' second-highest scoring set this season and the highest on home court. The Hawks played a 60-point set in an away match against Redeemer on Nov. 22.
- Stephanie Armstrong not only leads Humber in assists but sits second in the OCAA in assists per set with 7.92.
- The Hawks have now won 50 consecutive matches against the Bruins, dating back to 1992.
- Coach Chris Wilkins now sits three wins away from becoming the first head coach in Humber Athletics history to hit the 400-career victory mark.
What's Next?
No. 2 Humber will take a pause from the OCAA schedule and head to San Diego over the winter break for some non-conference action. When the Hawks return in the new year, they will be on the road for a weekend back-to-back against Boréal on Jan. 14 and Cambrian on Jan. 15. They will return to the Hawks Nest on Jan. 19 for a clash with the Fanshawe Falcons. First serve is at 8 p.m. and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
