HUMBER 3, DURHAM 0

OAKVILLE, Ont. - The Humber Hawks men's volleyball team advanced to the OCAA semi-final after defeating the Durham Lords in straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-16).

"We stayed composed and controlled our emotions," Humber head coach Wayne Wilkins said. "The first one is always tough, so I just asked the guys to go out and work hard and be solid on the block and they were."

"We a little bit of difficulty just getting into rhythm, [but] we executed the gameplan fairly well, with a few holes," added Durham head coach Andrew Hinchey. "Humber had an excellent match today, they played very well and they obviously they played better than us."

Humber's attack doubled the number of kills that Durham produced (44-22) while also holding the edge in aces (6-1) and total offence (52-34).

Durham had more blocks (11-7) and digs (35-34).

Jason Mascoll for Humber (17 kills, one ace) had a match-high 18 points, while Cam Fletcher (nine kills, two blocks) was also in double figures for the Hawks.

Craig Lush led the way offensively for the Lords with eight kills and five blocks.

Humber will await the winner of the quarter-final between Niagara and Nipissing on the championship side of the draw and Wilkins says the team will take the same approach they do for every other match.

"We try to stay in rhythm, we try to stay in cycle [and] we don't change anything," Wilkins said. "We're going to go back to practice tomorrow and it's just another game."

Durham, meanwhile, will move to the bronze medal bracket and while certainly disappointed to be ousted from championship contention, Hinchey says the Lords still have much to play for.

"One of our outcome goals for the season is to win a medal," Hinchey said. "So our season goal is still attainable, so this way we still have this motivation to go out and reach a goal we've been working for all year."

Source: Sheridan I.T.