However, their ticket to the postseason isn’t guaranteed this season with only three games remaining in the regular season.
The men’s volleyball team has won seven provincial titles, lead by coach Wayne Wilkins, including the last four in a row.
Humber are currently sitting one position outside of a playoff spot in the OCAA West standings as the end of this season nears.
“It’s just about making the playoffs,” Coach Wilkins said.
Coach Wayne Wilkins watches over his men's volleyball team.
Courtesy: Humber Hawks / Diego Guillen Photo credit: Humber Hawks / Diego Guillen
Anything can happen once you qualify for the postseason, he said. “You can play your best for three games and ultimately come out as a champion. These games are super important.”
Wilkins also explains that the ideal situation for the Hawks would not only be to qualify for the OCAA postseason, but to also try and earn home-court advantage.
It will definitely be a challenge for Humber to earn that advantage, but certainly not impossible.
The Hawks are 9-6 and earned 18 points in 15 games played this season.
In order to earn home-court advantage for the postseason, Humber would need to finish first in their conference.
To do this, they would need to win all three of their remaining games to have a chance to overtake first place, St. Clair, in the standings.
Since the Hawks have been incredibly successful in the past, naturally, the expectation is to qualify for playoffs.
Wilkins explains his winning formula for success. “We really understand the veteran-rookie mix,” he said.
Coach Wilkins admits that a big reason for the successes has been because of the “strong pipeline” of players that come in.
Having some younger players learning from older players, “really goes well for our culture,” Wilkins said.
The final push begins tonight as Humber hosts the Sheridan Bruins.
They have an opportunity to slide into the top four of the OCAA West standings, which is exactly what they need to improve their chances of playing postseason volleyball.
Moments in a season like this is where players and coaches might start to feel a little bit of pressure, but Wilkins has a different way of looking at it.
“Pressure is privilege.” He explains that in order to help alleviate some of the pressure that players may feel, he tells them that he believes, “the pressure is on the other team to perform at our level.”
The mental aspect of sport is just as important as the physical side of things. To be fit and ready to play several games is one thing, but focus and perspective is key for success.
Wilkins said, “It’s our side of the net that we got to take care of.”
He’s been stressing to his players that everyone needs to be on the same page in this final push and that whatever happens with other teams is out of their control.
Going into tonight’s game, that’s exactly what they will be emphasizing.