Champions Clash in Semi-Final

VIU Mariners vs. Humber Hawks – Thursday March 6, 3:00pm PST / 6:00pm EST

A couple of familiar foes will meet again at the CCAA women’s national volleyball championships as the PACWEST champion Mariners face the Ontario champion Hawks in a women’s semi-final.

On Wednesday the Mariners made quick work of the Manitoba champion Providence Pilots in three sets winning 25-23, 25-19 and 25-19.  Their offence was balanced led by the PACWEST Player of the Year and Player of the Match Aimee Skinner and her match high 18 kills along with seven digs and two service aces while Grace Greene out of the middle added 10 kills and Emma Schill had six on the outside.

They meet the Hawks who also tallied a three-set sweep in their quarterfinal win over the cinderella Augustana Vikings from the ACAC.  The Hawks smashed the glass slipper with sets wins of 25-20, 25-18, and 25-22.  Setter Kennedy Williscroft was named their Player of the Match with 25 assists, five aces, 11 digs and one block and both Hannah Manners and Amy Connelly each collected 10 kills.

The Hawks won their fourth straight Ontario conference two weeks ago on their home floor as the hosts.  They have not lost a match this season, finishing 18-0 and then won their two playoff matches before continuing their hot streak on Wednesday in the CCAA quarterfinal.  Williscroft is such a key part of the Hawks offence as the setter and was named the OCAA Player of the Year.

These two programs have seen each other several times at the CCAA nationals but have only matched up once in recently memory.  They last met on the floor in bronze medal match in 2023 in which the Hawks won in four sets.  Prior to that meeting, the Mariners beat the Hawks in the 2016 nationals in three-straight sets.

The winner of Thursday’s match will have a day off on Friday before advancing to the national gold medal match on Saturday.