HUMBER WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM ENTERS NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

NANAIMO, B.C. - The Humber Hawks women's volleyball team can make history in a couple of ways this weekend.

The five-time defending Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) champions have never won a medal at nationals. In fact, no OCAA team has ever won a national championship in 34 years of competition.

The 2012 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Volleyball National Championship begins Thursday at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, B.C.

OCAA teams have not faired well at the CCAA tournament, with only one medal since 1995. Bronze was awarded to the Cambrian Golden Shield in 2005.

Humber hopes to change this negative history on the strength of OCAA player of the year and CCAA All-Canadian Kelly Nyhof. The third-year middle out of Georgetown, Ont., was among the OCAA regular season leaders averaging 4.3 points and 3.08 kills per set. The West region first-team all-star totaled 213 points, 154 kills, 36 blocks and 23 aces for a Humber team that went undefeated with an 18-0 record.

She continued her strong presence at the OCAA championship tournament. In three matches, Nyhof totaled 44 points on 33 kills, 10 blocks and one ace en route to being named tournament MVP. When combined with its regular season record, Humber has now won 21 straight matches, losing only seven sets during this span.

Humber has other all-star players to contend with as well. Nina Carino (Scarborough, Ont.) and Teresa George (Newtonville, Ont.) were both named OCAA tournament all-stars as well as regular season first-team all-stars. Carino, a fourth-year setter, led the Hawks with 28 service aces during the regular season. George, a fifth-year libero, led Humber with 128 digs.

First-year left side Deborah Mitchell (Scarborough, Ont.) was also a tournament all-star. And not to be forgotten, fifth-year left side Kris Dowling (Freelton, Ont.) was a West region second-team all-star during the regular season.

Humber is seeded No. 4 at this year's nationals. Last year the Hawks finished in sixth place at the CCAA tournament.

Humber opens the CCAA tournament on Thursday at 6 p.m. PT against the PACWEST silver medalist UFV Cascades out of Abbotsford, B.C.

All matches will be webcast on sportscanada.tv.

CCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship Website: www.ccaawomensvolleyball2012.ca

Seeding
1. VIU Mariners (PACWEST gold + host)
2. Mount Royal Cougars (ACAC gold)
3. Élans de Francois-Xavier-Garneau (RSEQ gold)
4. Humber Hawks (OCAA gold)
5. UFV Cascades (PACWEST silver)
6. Medicine Hat Rattlers (ACAC silver)
7. Cavaliers de Bois-de-Boulogne (RSEQ silver)
8. MSVU Mystics (ACAA gold)

Schedule (all times PT)
Thursday, March 8
Game 1 - Mount Royal Cougars vs. Cavaliers de Bois-de-Boulogne - 1 p.m.
Game 2 - Élans de Francois-Xavier-Garneau vs. Medicine Hat Rattlers - 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Humber Hawks vs. UFV Cascades - 6 p.m.
Game 4 - VIU Mariners vs. MSVU Mystics - 8 p.m.

Friday, March 9
Game 5 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 6 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 - 3 p.m.
Game 7 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (Semi-Final) - 6 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 (Semi-Final) - 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 10
Game 9 - Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 6 - 10 a.m.
Game 10 - Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 5 - 12 p.m.
Game 11 - Loser of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 (7th/8th place) - 2 p.m.
Game 12 - Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 (Bronze Medal) - 5:30 p.m.
Game 13 - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8 (Gold Medal) - 8 p.m.

With files from Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 31 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com