The Battle of the Birds: Falcons vs. Hawks. This highly anticipated matchup features the West division's #1 ranked Fanshawe Falcons versus the #2 ranked Humber Hawks. "Firing on all cylinders" may be an understatement as we are mid-way through the first set and setters Ashley Rafferty (Fanshawe) and Alex Bartman (Humber) are getting EVERYONE involved. These two teams are so deep that running these offenses must be a sincere treat for these two talented setters. Alex Lachapelle for Humber made several huge digs for her team, and All-Canadian Janelle Albert is all over the court on the defensive end getting touches on seemingly everything. Haley Henderson shines through late with several effective swings for the Hawks from the outside. Albert responds with an absolute deafening smash from the back court leaving the ball to be retrieved from the bleachers at the back of the gymnasium by our wonderful volunteers from the North Bay Youth Volleyball Club Lakers. Timeout Humber, down 22-18. The Falcons momentum would prove to be uninterrupted as Fanshawe secures a 1st set victory 25-18.
Lachapelle's supreme defense is on display once again in the 2nd set as she make some important digs early on, and Bartman connects with Alex Krstonosic for a kill in the middle. Haley Henderson for the Hawks follows up with a massive solo block in the middle, and then Shiann Williams closes well with Bartman to connect for another block! The Hawks fans are on their feet! Albert follows up with a line shot to spark the Falcon fans, and we are knotted at 8's . After Williams and Bartman connect for another block on the outside, Rafferty for Fanshawe executes a beautiful setter's dump to side-out for her team. The Hawks refuse to go away though as Henderson builds a roof over Albert for a timeout inducing block, called by Fanshawe down 10-14. Fanshawe sides out the next point, but the Hawks go on another run to force another Falcons timeout down 11-16. Megan Hunt cannot be contained by the Falcons in this set, as she delivers another kill for the blue-and-gold. Humber evens this match by taking the set handily, 25-18.
To the third set we go! After both sides falter at the service line, the game cleans up with perhaps the most exciting series of points that Fanshawe has provided in this tournament. Albert with a heavy pipe hit for a kill, followed by an incredible defensive performance where she registers a dig on a hit that had no business being dug! Down 12-7 the Hawks call a timeout. The Falcons continue to control this set as they double up on the Hawks 18-9. Cassidy Andrews comes on to the court for the Hawks and sparks a mini-run for her team with an electric strike from the right side! The spark was a little too late as the Falcons take this set 25-18, and now up 2-1 in the match.
Andrews for the Hawks sparks her team again early in the 4th set with another huge kill! Lachapelle continues the positive run for the hawks with some great digs and mixes in a beautiful assist for good measure! A timeout is then called by Fanshawe as the Hawks lead 8-5. Megan Hunt goes to work for Humber registering points for her squad, but the Falcons will not go away. Albert registers three well placed roll shots in back-to-back-to-back rallies to score for her team and keep them in this game down only by one at a set score of 13-14. The Hawks proceed to go on another run in this one and quickly find themselves up again 18-14. Albert responds with a block out of a Falcon timeout, but Andrews comes back with another timely kill from the outside to score for her Hawks. The Falcons come soaring back, but still down by one at 24-23. Kim Hardy and Katie Stewart combine for the block of the match, and Albert gets a kill on the next rally! 25-24 is the score in favour of Fanshawe as Humber surrenders the lead. Humber sides out a marathon rally and its now tied at 25-25. Albert comes back with a powerful kill from the right side to put her team up by a point. Stewart then delivers the finishing blow for the Falcons on a great set by Rafferty! 26-24. WOW-what a match!
Congratulations to both Humber and Fanshawe on an amazing tournament and gold medal final performance. Fans that made their way to North Bay received an absolute treat in witnessing this match in person.
A big thank you to everyone involved in making this Championship possible!
Players of the Game
Fanshawe: Ashley Rafferty (45 assists, 2 kills, 2 aces, 1 block, 7 digs)
Humber: Alex Lachapelle (22 digs)
Championship MVP
Janelle Albert (Fanshawe)
Championship All-Stars
Althea Boncheff (Durham)
Kimberly Quintanilla (St.Clair)
Alex Bartman (Humber)
Shiann Williams (Humber)
Mattea Deleary (Fanshawe)
Kiana Lee (Fanshawe)