HAWKS HOST OCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is down to its final four in women's volleyball, with all remaining teams headed to the North Campus of Humber Polytechnic in Toronto's north-west end for the OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship.

In an interesting twist, the top four seeds from the West Division have survived two OCAA elimination rounds to make it to Etobicoke. This includes the undefeated West Division champion Humber Hawks, second seed St. Clair Saints, third seed Niagara Knights and fourth seed Fanshawe Falcons.

The OCAA semi-finals take place on Friday, leading into Saturday's medal matches. The OCAA champion moves on to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Volleyball National Championship in Oshawa, Ont., from Mar. 5-8.

Niagara (12-6, 3rd West) vs. Humber (18-0, 1st West)
Friday, Feb. 21 - 5 p.m.

The Humber Hawks have won 45 straight OCAA-sanctioned matches, including regular and post-season, dating back to February, 2023. They are two wins away on home court from winning a fourth-straight OCAA championship.

The Hawks feature All-Canadian second-year setter Kennedy Williscroft (Vancouver, B.C.). Individually, Williscroft led all OCAA student- athletes averaging 8.73 assists per set during the regular season. As a team, the Humber offence averaged a league-best 17.4 points per set.

Second-year middle and OCAA First-Team All-Star Sam Cormier (St. Catharines) of the Niagara Knights was No. 1 in the OCAA with 60 stuff blocks during the regular season, averaging 1.11 per set. Niagara last won an OCAA medal in 2019 (silver).

These teams met twice during the regular season, with Humber sweeping both matches 25-18, 25-17, 25-21 in November and 25-14, 25-20, 25-23 in January.

Fanshawe (9-9, 4th West) vs. St. Clair (16-2, 2nd West)
Friday, Feb. 21 - 7:30 p.m.

Other than two losses against Humber, the St. Clair Saints have won every other OCAA-sanctioned match this season.

The Saints showcase All-Canadian third-year middle blocker Geneva Huisman (Amhertsburg). Huisman was among the league leaders with 200 kills, 40 blocks and 257 total points during the regular season.

The Fanshawe Falcons are led offensively by third-year outside hitter Grace McLean (Dorchester) who recorded a team-high 177 points and 137 kills in 17 regular season matches.

St. Clair won both meetings against the Falcons in four sets, but both matches were played prior to Remembrance Day. St. Clair took the first meeting in October 23-25, 25-8, 25-23, 25-19 and again in November 25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 25-17.

Both the Falcons (gold) and Saints (bronze) last won OCAA medals in 2020.

Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/wvb25

Live Webcast: ocaa.live

Friday, February 21
Semi-Finals
S-F #1: Niagara vs. Humber - 5 p.m.
S-F #2: Fanshawe vs. St. Clair - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 22
Bronze Medal Match
Loser Semi-Final #1 vs. Loser Semi-Final #2 - 2:30 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match

Gold Medal Match
Winner Semi-Final #1 vs. Winner Semi-Final #2 - 5 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com