The Hawks swept a winless Boréal Vipères 3-0 on Saturday evening, allowing Humber to keep third place in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) West standings with a 10-5 record.
Both teams entered the game seeking a win after losing their previous matches.
Boréal entered the match with a 49-game losing streak, dating back to Oct. 20, 2023, and were looking to end it against Humber, who they have never beaten in program history.
Vipères head coach Bryan Welsh said his team hopes to give the Hawks a challenge.
“We've been so close against so many teams, just can't get over that hump,” he said. “We really just wanted to come in and give them a challenge and maybe take a few sets from them.”
Humber is looking to go back to winning ways after coming off a defeat at home against Mohawk on Jan. 29.
Hawks head coach Wayne Wilkins said the matchup against Boréal allows new players to get some playing time.
“We have a bunch of new guys that are going to come in off the bench, and they're going to get an opportunity today,” he said. “It's going to be a game with a new lineup. So, our expectation is that they take this as seriously as a playoff game.”
In the first set to begin the game, both sides were tied at 3-3, until Humber scored six unanswered points, prompting a timeout by Boréal.
The Hawks carried the lead into double digits and eventually won the set 25-15 after first-year middle blocker Cameron Hedderson secured the final kill.
The second saw the Vipères keep the game close, but Humber maintained the lead throughout the set.
The Hawks never allowed Boréal to gain the lead, keeping the deficit to two or more points. Humber won the set 25-22.
The third set saw Boréal take the lead with the host trailing behind.
The Hawks continued tying the setup, but the Vipères remained intact, being a point ahead.
Humber took the lead for the first time at 13-12, but it was short-lived as Boréal kept on fighting.
The Vipères levelled the set 23-23, which led to a timeout in a game that was anyone's to win.
Boréal led after the call, but Humber responded immediately.
The Hawks took the lead and had the final point decision to end the game. The team's offence tipped the ball over, and the Vipères could not respond, giving Humber the win.
Despite the defeat, the Boréal Vipères women’s team created energy in supporting the men’s team in the third set.
Welsh said the bond between the two programs has been the highlight of the season.
“The boys and the girls’ teams just have a tight bond right now, and it has been a wonderful season watching their development,” he said. “It's just been a wonderful moment to have all these kids, and they just bond so tight, and it's been lots of fun.”
Humber's first-year setter Aiden Newton was awarded the player of the game, providing 12 assists, two kills, a dig and a service ace.
Newton said the team stayed focused on the job.
“It was a good match today (against Boréal),” he said. “[We] just focus on our side, get the job done.”
Wilkins said giving these younger players an opportunity also requires them to meet the standard.
“We often preach to these guys that the standard is the standard,” he said. “If you're not playing up to standard, we're going to let you know because we expect it to be a certain level.”
