OSHAWA, Ont. - Humber women's volleyball captured their OCAA record 16th provincial title, defeating the Mohawk Mountaineers on Thursday evening, 3-0. The final set scores were 25-16, 25-20, and 29-27.
It was another all-around effort for Humber as four players finished with double-digit point totals on the night. Keyome Ellis (Scarborough, Ont.) finished with 14 points on 11 kills, two blocks and one ace while Megan Hunt (Windsor, Ont.) matched her with 14 of her own on 10 kills, three blocks and one ace. Aleks Steins (Port Hope, Ont.) put up 12 points on seven kills and five blocks while Erika Dodd (Uxbridge, Ont.) finished with 11 points on six kills, four aces and a block.
Humber took control midway through the opening set using an 11-3 run to take a commanding 21-12 lead, forcing a Mohawk timeout. The Hawks never let the Mountaineers back into the set, taking the opener by nine points.
The Hawks opened the second set hot, going on a 5-0 run forcing Mohawk into an early timeout. Humber pushed its lead up to as much as seven points midway through the set as the Mountaineers struggled to gain momentum. The Hawks closed out the second set leading it wire-to-wire to take a 2-0 set lead.
It was a thrilling third set as both teams battled back from deficits to sit tied at 24 points. Humber and Mohawk traded the next six possessions as neither side backed down now tied a 27. The Hawks were finally able to string together two points, as with a final Ellis block Humber closed out the set to complete the sweep and capture OCAA gold.
All-Canadian Ellis was named the Championship MVP, while Alex Bartmann (Uxbridge, Ont.) and Steins were named Championship All-Stars.
Source: Humber Hawks
The Durham College women's volleyball team wrap up the 2021-22 OCAA varsity season with a bronze medal win over the Canadore Panthers.
Volleyball fans were surely in for a treat with this match-up as Canadore College are the only school Durham hadn't swept in the regular season. And just like their February meeting in North Bay, this match took five sets to decide.
The Lords came out of the gates looking as strong as they usually do, taking the first two sets by 25-13 and 25-20 scores. Instead of rolling over and accepting defeat, the Panthers clawed back with two consecutive 25-20 wins of their own to tie the match at two sets each and forced a tiebreaker.
In the fifth set, it was back and forth as both schools took the lead a number of times, but a hot streak by Durham late in the set pushed them over the hump to a 15-10 win to take the match.
Katie Stewart (Gananoque, Ont.) was named the Player of the Match for Durham, recording eight kills, four serving aces, two blocks and 14 digs.
Notably, Mia Hildebrandt (Winnipeg, Man.) tallied 17 kills and Aislinn Pedersen (Hamilton, Ont.) smashed home 13. Brooke Young (Chestermere, Alta.) was the assists leader for the team.
It cannot be forgotten that the Lords registered 21 service aces in the match, led by Pedersen with seven and Jessie Anatol (Ajax, Ont.) and Stewart with four each.
The Durham Lords will add their 14th OCAA championship medal in women's volleyball to the record books.
Source: Durham Lords
OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship MVP
Keyome Ellis, Humber
OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship All-Stars
Alex Bartmann, Humber
Katie Bethune, Canadore
Mia Hildebrandt, Durham
Amanda Kuiper, Mohawk
Aleks Steins, Humber
Julia Watson, Mohawk
- OCAA -
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