HUMBER OPENS MEN'S VOLLEYBALL NATIONALS WITH EASY WIN

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - The Humber Hawks men's volleyball team took the first step towards a national championship game with a 3-0 straight set win over St. Thomas University on Thursday afternoon at Columbia Bible College in British Columbia.

The game, a quarter-final affair against the Atlantic champion St. Thomas Thommies, was over very quickly as the Hawks took the three sets with relative ease, by scores of 25-6, 25-8 and 25-16.

With the win the Hawks will now play on Friday aginast the winner of the Outahais (Quebec champion) and Red Deer (Wild Card from Alberta), in the CCAA national semi-final game.

The winner will advance to the gold medal game at 7 p.m. local time on Saturday night. The loser will have to play Saturday morning in a bronze medal semi-final tilt.

The Hawks were in total control when the match started, running out to a quick 6-1 lead. It was never close as the Humber squad kept pushing, not allowing the Thommies a chance for any kind of a run.

The second set was more of the same, although the Atlantic champs did see the score seem tight at 7-6 Humber. The Hawks then went on a big run as they outscored the Thommies 18-2.

The third set saw Humber head coach Wayne Wilkins insert a number of non-starters as the game went on. The set was never in doubt as the Hawks did not allow the Thommies within double figures for most of the way.

"The boys played very well, it was a great start," said Wilkins. "The team is anxious for the semi final match tomorrow."

Humber was led on the scoreboard by CCAA national player of the year Terrel Bramwell, as he put 14 kills and 1 stuff block together for a total of 15 offensive points.

No other Hawk scored in double figures, but Mack Robertson and Cam Fletcher were close, with nine points each.

Andre Brown was selected as the Humber Player of the Game.

Humber entered the championships as the No. 1 ranked team in the country and the first seed at this national event.

Source: Humber College