HEATHER ALFORD
SPORTS REPORTER

The women’s volleyball team has dominated Ontario and now has its eye on conquering Canada at the national championship tournament being held this weekend at Outahais in Gatineau, Que.

The team’s ability to win its first match against the fourth seeded Vancouver Island Mariners in tomorrow’s game will improve its chances to advance to the final four.

“You win that first match, you put yourself in a positive position,” said sports information director Jim Bialek.

“Ontario teams have not been able to win that first match since Humber hosted nationals six years ago.”

In 2004 and 2006 Humber made it to the final four, a position it hasn’t reached since.

Despite being doubted from the beginning of the season, having lost many of its veteran players, the Hawks, ranked fifth in Canada, are going to nationals with fight in its game.

“A lot of people said Humber’s not that strong this year and that they’ve got a lot of new girls playing and they’re a young team so they might not be at nationals,” said assistant coach and former player Heather Longland.

“We showed them that we deserve to be there by winning provincials.”

The Hawks’ game plan for this year’s nationals is simple: there’s no pressure so go out swinging.

“We’re still a hard team that’s going to fight with everything we have,” said OCAA all-star and rookie of the year, Kelly Nyhof.

The Hawks placed fifth in its last two national appearances.

“I think any success at the nationals,” said Bialek, “has to be termed a success.”

This year, though the ultimate goal is to make it to the podium, the team is excited just to be back on the national stage.

“There’s always going to be teams that are going to be challenging, you’re always going to have to strive to beat them,” said OCAA all-star and libero Kendra Trodd.

“But if we play our game and still lose, I’ll still be happy as long as I know that I gave everything that I could, and the rest of the girls gave everything they could.”