No. 13 Women’s Volleyball rallies back to defeat Niagara
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Niagara (7-6, 7-6) | 25 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 1 |
|
Humber (10-2, 10-2) | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – No. 13 Humber women's volleyball (10-2 2nd West) opened its 2026 home slate with a four-set victory (23-25, 25-13, 25-12, 25-13) over the Niagara Knights (7-6, 6th West) on Thursday night at the Hawks' Nest. The victory extends Humber's perfect all-time record against Niagara to an unblemished 45-0.
Fifth-year outside hitter Lexie Zicari led the Hawks defensively with 10 points and five service aces, while Reese Cholette continued her dominance defensively with a game-high 16 digs.
Match recap
A new year brought new challenges for Humber women's volleyball, as consecutive losses to the St. Clair Saints ended a 57-match winning streak and dropped the Hawks to number 13 in the national rankings.
Returning to the Nest for the first time in 2026, Humber looked to reset with the support of its home crowd and ensure the setbacks didn't carry into the postseason.
The Hawks looked comfortable on home court from the opening serve, jumping out to a dominant 7-1 lead and forcing Niagara into an early timeout. Second-year transfer Kaley Rawlick quickly found rhythm with Hannah Manners at the net, connecting repeatedly as Manners piled up five points to help Humber build a 20-15 lead. However, momentum swung late in the set, as defensive errors allowed Niagara to rally back and steal the opener, 25-23.
The early setback sparked a dominant response from the Hawks in the second set. Fueled by three consecutive aces from Lexie Zicari, Humber took control early and never looked back, maintaining pressure and closing out the frame with a commanding 25-13 victory.
The momentum carried into the third set, and the Knights couldn't find answers. First-year middle blocker Faith Hughes controlled the net with a series of blocks, while Zicari continued to dominate from the service line. The Hawks cruised to a decisive 25-12 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Humber stayed focused in the fourth set as Niagara was still within striking distance. A strong start by senior player Amy Connelly set the tone early, allowing the Hawks to dictate the tempo. Humber kept the intensity high and closed out the match with a 25-13 win.
Lexie Zicari was named the Player of the Game, scoring 10 points and five service aces.
Humber Highlights
- Humber holds a perfect 45-0 all-time record against Niagara; 19-0 at the Hawks' Nest.
- Head coach Chris Wilkins improves to a 268-65 career record as the Hawks' boss.
- With their 25-12 third-set win, Humber handed Niagara their second-worst set performance of the season.
- This was Kaley Rawlick's debut at the Hawks' Nest.
- Hannah Manners sits third in the OCAA with an average of 3.64 kills per set.
- Faith Hughes has the third-best hitting percentage in the province at .409.
- Reese Cholette's 140 digs are the second most in the OCAA.
What's next?
The Hawks will now hit the road for their final away match of the regular season, travelling to Kitchener to face the Conestoga Condors (6-6, 7th West) on Saturday, Jan. 24. The first serve is set for 1 p.m.
