DEREK QUINN RETIREMENT ON THE HORIZON

There is one inevitable that every varsity team has to deal with: graduation.

This year marks men's volleyball setter Derek Quinn's fifth and final year at Humber. He's a soft-spoken person, but his impact and presence on the team will be missed.

"The position itself will be replaced, there have been great players before him and will continue to come after he's gone," said Wayne Wilkins, coach of the men's volleyball team.

"The person himself, the leader he was and the player he was is really the part we are going to miss. He's arguably one of the most decorated players to ever wear a Humber uniform."

Quinn began playing as a power for his rep club team. Once at Humber he would make the switch to setter, a position coach Wilkins played during his career at Humber.

"When I came to Humber there wasn't a designated setter but coach saw me set for my rep team, just as a fun thing. I guess he thought I had potential," Quinn said.

"I started to like it more and more because setter is like the quarterback, calling all the plays. I really liked taking control of the game and knowing I was in control at all times."

This control and the nature of the position forced Quinn to take on a leadership role, something he has had to work on throughout his career.

"Leadership is definitely not one of my strong points," Quinn said, "I'm not an outspoken guy where I'm willing to lead all the time."

Mack Robertson, a fourth-year middle for the Hawks, said Quinn has shown his leadership in different ways.

"Verbal part of leadership is still developing for him, but he is very good leading by example.  He's always very focused," Robertson said.

"He's been criticized by teammates about not cheering after a point but that's because he's just so focused on the next point."

Last year Quinn and the Hawks won the national championship, the first team from Ontario to do so since 1983. Quinn said that championship meant everything to him.

While he may be graduating, Wilkins said this is just the beginning: "Don't be surprised if this is not the last time you see or hear from Derek Quinn."

Source: Brian O'Neill, Humber College Journalism Program