By Jack MacCool
The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s volleyball team’s five-game winning streak came to a halt at the hands of the York University Lions on Friday night in a gruelling five set contest at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC).
Each set was a battle as both teams looked to establish themselves as bonafide contenders in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings.
“The biggest thing is definitely execution in those fifth sets,” said fourth-year middle Alex King. “I think we missed something like five serves in that last set, which you just can’t be doing.”
The meeting between the two programs was the first of a pair of games this weekend. With the Lions picking up game one, TMU will try and even the season series just 24 hours later.
“We’re going to have a little bit of a tougher night instead of feeling positive after a win,” said Bold head coach Niko Rukavina. “It’s how fast you can turn around and start thinking about tomorrow.”
York entered the contest as the number four seed in the OUA and looked every bit the part of the higher seed in the first set, converting on a number of massive kills, forcing TMU to take a timeout to halt the Lions’ momentum.
Though the Bold kept the deficit within reach and eventually tied the set at 16-16, it was the Lions who would execute down the stretch and take the first set 25-22.
Unlike the opening set, it was TMU that capitalized off mistakes in the second, opening up a six-point lead after a flurry of service errors and mishit balls from the York side.
The Bold began clicking on the offensive side of the ball, fully taking control of the set after a series of kills from outside hitter Jacob Walker and middle Alex King. TMU won the second 25-15, tying the game at one set each.
King had a team-high 24 kills in the game and was a vocal and emotional leader for TMU whenever York began to gain any sort of momentum.
Any feeling out period was done by the start of the third as both teams found more success with their offence. Early on it was York who got the better of the Bold with a couple of huge kills from outside hitters Andrew Tauhid and Josh Fadare, who finished with a game-high 25 kills before getting injured at the end of the fourth.
Neither squad was able to gain a sizeable lead throughout the set, stifled by either their own mistake or a momentum-changing play by the other. Despite the comeback effort from TMU, York took the third 25-22.
Much like the sets that preceded it, the fourth was incredibly tight. Neither team was able to open up a big lead and seemingly every time one team took control, the other would answer with an impressive play.
The Bold led by a small margin for the majority of the set until a quick series of York points gave them a pivotal 24-23 lead. Two massive blocks at the net by Bold outside hitter Lyam Krapp was the difference maker for TMU, allowing them to squeak out the fourth set by a score of 27-25.
Despite missing Fadare’s destructive presence at the net, the Lions had success early on kills, converting multiple spikes to open up a 6-3 lead.
The second half of the fifth saw both teams grasping at any points they could get, racking up kills and blocks while diving over every square inch of the hardwood. The Lions led, but the Bold continued to battle on every rally. Ultimately, TMU’s late comeback came up just short, losing the final frame 15-11.
The Bold will host the Lions again on Saturday and will look to get back in the win column as they enter a pivotal point in their season.
With eight games remaining in their regular season, two of which are matchups against nationally ranked conference rivals in the University of Toronto and McMaster University, TMU needs to find their footing ahead of a potential playoff push.
“You’ve got to give them some time to just be mellow in their loss and hopefully watch some film at home,” said Rukavina. “Tonight is about eating, drinking water, stretching and getting ready for tomorrow.”
UP NEXT: The Bold host the York Lions at the Mattamy Athletic Centre for the second game of their back-to-back set. First serve is set for 8 p.m.
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