(London, Ontario) – The #1 CCAA ranked Fanshawe Men's Volleyball team (16-0) defeated #4 Humber (14-2) in front of a packed home crowd on Saturday afternoon. The three to one win extended their OCAA regular season winning streak to 47 matches.
In the opening set, the Falcons got off to a hot start, going up 10-2. Brilliant passing from Fanshawe setter Sebastian Lethbridge (London, ON) set up kills from outside hitters Zach Albert (Brampton, ON) and James Jackson (London, ON). Errors from Humber prevented the Hawks from making a comeback and the home team picked up a set one win 25-14.
A powerful kill from Fanshawe middle blocker Mitch McFadden (St. Pauls, ON) put the Falcons on the board in set two. Humber would notch points of their own and stay within reach of the home squad. The Hawks then took the lead 8-5 and maintained the 3-point advantage until late in the set. Fanshawe chipped away and got a huge block from Albert to tie the game at 24. Unfortunately, Humber would get the next two points and take the second set 26-24.
The Hawks would carry that momentum into the third set, taking a 6-3 lead. The Falcons would regroup with hits from Sam Otten (Delware, ON) and Cole Jordan (London, ON). The two nationally ranked teams exchanged points from there, with long rallies deciding many of the points. Another right-side kill from Otten sparked the home team and the Falcons would win set three 25-21.
Set four was also back and forth, with neither team being able to gain a comfortable lead. Back-to-back kills from Otten would give the home team a slim 12-9 advantage. Fanshawe then got a big block from Mike Liscumb (Ilderton, ON). Otten would continue to be strong, notching another kill to make the score 23-20 for the red and white. Despite the Hawks best efforts, Fanshawe ended the match with a 25-23 fourth set victory. Albert led all players with 15 points in the match.
Fanshawe will close out the OCAA regular season with back-to-back games at home next weekend. The Falcons will take on the Cambrian Golden Shield (1-14) at 3pm on Saturday followed by the Boréal Vipères on Sunday at 3pm.