HUMBER WINS CCAA NATIONAL MEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - The Humber Hawks of Etobicoke, Ont. have earned a national title at the 2012 CCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship.

The Humber Hawks defeated the Douglas Royals of New Westminster, B.C. in four games (25-21, 30-28, 21-25, 26-24). The 2012 CCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship took place at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C.

Both teams gave it their all to capture the first set of the finals. Humber's outside and CCAA Player of the Year Award recipient Terrel Bramwell took charge at the net striking monstrous kills for his team. Douglas College's Taylor rallied back with some kills of his own, but it was the Hawks that held on for the win, 25-21.

The Royals' offence played a really great second set as middle and local Abbotsford boy Mark Vanderwal made spectacular blocks at the net and libero Jordan Or slid on the inside many times to save the ball from touching the ground. However, Humber pushed back with some incredible offence from middle Andre Brown and outside Cam Fletcher and after extra points, the Hawks won the set 30–28.

An ecstatic third set was displayed as the players were spectacular on both sides of the court. Among the Royals defence was Team Captain Kaleb Dawe, outside Sam Shaw, and Vanderwal, who proved to be too much for the Humber offence and as a result, the Royals took the set, 25–21, keeping their championship hopes alive.

The Humber Hawks raised the bar in the fourth set with setter Derek Quinn and outside Chris Ling displaying teamwork and communication skills, executing play after play. It was a close battle that needed extra points but in the end, the Humber Hawks won the set, 26–24, the game 3–1, and the national championship. Players of the game were Aleks Inveiss (Humber) and Rex Fenton (Douglas).

Bramwell backed up his OCAA and CCAA player of the year awards being named tournament MVP. Brown and Inveiss were both named tournament first-team all-stars.

With the win, Humber won its first ever CCAA medal in men's volleyball. The Hawks become just the second OCAA team to win a national championship in men's volleyball, joining the 1983 Sheridan Bruins. It is the first CCAA medal for an OCAA men's volleyball team since Algonquin earned bronze in 2007.

Sources: Columbia Bible College, CCAA and OCAA Communications