FOUR-PEAT FOR HAWKS; KNIGHTS CAPTURE BRONZE IN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

ETOBICOKE, Ont. – In their fifth consecutive OCAA championship appearance, the No. 3 Humber Hawks (22-0) delivered another masterclass in dominance, defeating the No. 11 St. Clair Saints (19-3) in four sets (25-19, 22-25, 25-15, 25-16) to claim their 19th OCAA title.

In the bronze medal game, the Niagara Knights (15-7) made quick work of the Fanshawe Falcons (11-11), sweeping them in straight sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-23) to capture their first bronze medal since 2017.

MATCH RECAPS

Gold Medal Match: No. 3 Humber Hawks (22-0) vs No. 11 St. Clair Saints (19-3) — 25-19, 22-25, 25-15, 25-16

That was it. Twenty-one games, countless kills and thrilling tiebreakers all led to this defining moment. The 2025 OCAA Women's Volleyball Championship match had arrived.

With head coach Chris Wilkins at the helm, the Hawks stood on the brink of history once again, chasing their 19th provincial gold medal and further solidifying their legacy. But across the net, the St. Clair Saints had their own story to write. Back in the championship match for the first time since 1997, the Saints were hungry for a shot at their second OCAA gold medal.

The Hawks' Nest was a sea of blue and green as Humber and St. Clair fans packed the stands. Feeding off the energy of their home crowd, the Hawks put on a strong performance in the first set. While Humber is often known for its dominant outside hitters, it was their serving staff that stole the show. Amanda Larsen, Caitlyn Labelle and Hannah Manners combined for five aces, setting Humber to a commanding 22-14 lead. With the set point on the line, Lauren Bannister stepped up to serve, her ball clipping the net and dropping in for an ace to seal the set 25-19.

All season long, teams had watched Humber take control after winning the first set, but the Saints did not back down. St. Clair came out firing in the second, quickly jumping ahead 20-16 with a magic performance from Ashley Maleyko, who racked up three kills, and Haleigh Kearns, who kept Humber on edge with her serving. The Hawks fought back to cut the deficit to 24-22, but the Saints managed to close out the set 25-22 to even the match.

As the third set got underway, the home crowd rallied behind the Hawks, and their energy translated onto the court. Humber was unstoppable. Amy Connelly hammered down six kills while Larsen and Kennedy Williscroft teamed up for a double block that shut down the set 25-15.

In the fourth set, both teams struggled with service errors early, keeping the score tight at 8-8. But when pressure mounted, Humber's stars delivered. Connelly, Labelle and Manners took control and led the Hawks to the match point. With the championship within reach, Labelle stepped to the service line. Her serve kissed the net, forcing a scrambling St. Clair dig attempt, but the ball hit the floor. 25-16. The Hawks celebrated as the Nest roared.

With their 15th OCAA title in 17 years, Humber women's volleyball and head coach Wilkins continue to build a legacy that might just be worthy of a history lesson one day.

Players of the Game
Humber's Amy Connelly
St. Clair's Arianna Karl

Championship All-Stars
Humber's Reese Cholette and Caitlyn Labelle
St. Clair's Haleigh Kearns and Arianna Karl

Championship MVP
Humber's Hannah Manners

Bronze Medal Match: Fanshawe Falcons (11-11) vs. Niagara Knights (15-7) — 25-20, 25-22, 25-23

After falling short in their semifinal matchup, the Fanshawe Falcons and the Niagara Knights had one last shot at leaving the OCAA championship with hardware. With the bronze medal on the line, both teams wanted to cap off their seasons on a high note.

For the Falcons, it was a chance to secure their first OCAA medal since 2020. Meanwhile, the Knights aimed to break a five-year medal drought and return to the podium.

The crowd watched a hard-fought battle, with both the Knights and the Falcons coming out strong in the first set. The teams traded points back and forth, locked in a 19-19 tie before Niagara found a good sequence. Montanna Taylor and Natalie Little stepped up late in the set, leading Niagara to a 25-20 victory.

Riding the momentum, the Knights carried their dominance into the second set, surging ahead to a 19-14 lead. However, the Falcons refused to back down, going on two 4-0 runs to trim the lead down to two at 22-20, with Jaime Worsfold having a flawless performance at the net. But Niagara held their ground and closed out the set 25-22, putting them one step closer to the bronze medal.

Facing the loss, the Falcons came out swinging in the third set, jumping to an early 8-4 lead supported by Grace McLean's two kills. The Knights stayed composed, and Tess Kelly anchored a comeback with a stellar defensive performance, recording three blocks. The set remained a nail-bitter, but with a match point at 24-23, Taylor delivered the final blow, sealing the Knights' first bronze medal since 2017.

Players of the Game
Fanshawe's Sammie Gibson
Niagara's Natalie Little

Championship All-Stars
Fanshawe's Grace McLean
Niagara's Montanna Taylor

Source: Fernando Bossoes/Humber Hawks

Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/wvb25

Live Webcast: ocaa.live

Friday, February 21
Semi-Finals
S-F #1: Humber def. Niagara 3-1
S-F #2: St. Clair def. Fanshawe 3-0

Saturday, February 22
Bronze Medal Match
Niagara def. Fanshawe 3-0

Gold Medal Match
Humber def. St. Clair 3-1

- OCAA -

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