Men's Volleyball finish first half with sweep of Bruins
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sheridan (3-5, 3-5) | 20 | 14 | 26 | 0 |
|
Humber (4-4, 4-4) | 25 | 25 | 28 | 3 |
By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – Humber men's volleyball (5-4, 5th West) got back in the win column Thursday evening after a home court sweep over the Sheridan Bruins (3-6, 8th West) 3-0, (25-20, 25-14, 28-26). The Hawks controlled the first two sets, but Sheridan put up a fight in the third, making for an exciting conclusion to the Hawks' final game of 2022. Two-time All-Canadian Jake Gomes recorded a double-double, finishing with 22 assists and ten digs while leading the team with 13 points.
Match Recap
Both sides settled into the match as the first set was knotted at five through ten rallies. With the energy in the Hawks' Nest radiating an electrifying buzz after witnessing an exciting women's game, the men fed off the atmosphere and exploded offensively. Humber went on a 12-2 run, which gave them a commanding double-digit lead. Although the Bruins made a late push and brought themselves to within four points, they were no match for the determined Hawks, who closed out the set 25-20.
The Hawks had the Bruins on their heels for all of the second set as Sheridan failed to take the lead the entire set. After the Hawks hurdled ahead to an early two-point lead, they went on a tear and won 13 of the next 19 rallies to put them ahead by nine. The Bruins could get nothing going, and Humber closed out the set with little trouble to put them 25 points away from a winning record.
The final set saw the Hawks carrying their explosive momentum over and taking a commanding 16-7 lead. With Humber dominating most of the game, visiting Sheridan fans watched uneasily as a comeback seemed nearly impossible; however, the Bruins would soon give their supporters something to cheer about. Humber uncharacteristically broke down on defence, sending Sheridan on a 17-7 that put them one point away from sending the match to a fourth set. Coach Wayne Wilkins called a timeout and motivated his team. The Hawks went on to close out the set on their 28th point and secure their fifth win of the season.
Veteran superstar Jake Gomes had another outstanding game as he continues to give reasons why he is one the best to ever wear a Humber volleyball jersey. The Oakville native led the Hawks with 22 assists, seven aces and ten digs. Meanwhile, Gabriel Mendes posted a team-high nine kills.
Humber Highlights
- Jake Gomes tied a season-high in aces with seven and added to his Humber record with 144 career aces. He sits second in the OCAA in service aces per set.
- In his first year with the Hawks, Gabriel Mendes leads his team into 2023 with 74 kills.
- Mendes sits second in the OCAA with a .384 hitting percentage, while fellow Hawk Jaydon Milne sits fourth with a .356 hitting percentage.
- In his 27th season, coach Wayne Wilkins earned his 394th career victory.
- Humber improves to 49-20 all-time against the Bruins and 23-9 on home court.
What's Next?
Humber will return to OCAA action in 2023 with a weekend doubleheader against Boréal on Jan. 14 and Cambrian on Jan. 15. They will be back at the North Campus Gym on Jan. 19 for a matchup with the Fanshawe Falcons. First serve is slated for 8 p.m. and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
