By Naomi Low

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s volleyball team concluded their double-header against the York University Lions with another win at the Mattamy Athletic Center (MAC) on Friday evening. Attendees of the team’s Breast Cancer Awareness Game saw the Bold bring home an exhilarating 3-1 victory. 

The first set was a spitting image of yesterday night with each team trading between the role of hunter and prey, albeit by incremental margin. 

Once again, the Bold found themselves staring down the barrel of two set points when York nabbed in front at 25-24 and 27-26. The Bold rallied behind the energy of the crowd with a massive kill from second-year outside hitter Hannah Bellai to give TMU its first look at a set point. Needing no invitation for any further scrimmage, a definitive kill from Bellai sealed the set.

The pressure and intensity continued into the second set with TMU calling the first timeout as the Lions started to pull away at 13-11. The Bold returned to the court with a renewed determination as they found themselves ahead 21-19. 

York would only win one more point until their second set campaign would slip out from under them.

Late kills from third-year outside hitter Kaiya Krahn, a haphazard attack error from York third-year outside hitter Kianna Drewniak and a scorcher of a back-court kill by second-year middle Rayanna Amos-Ross Fisher would suddenly bring TMU a handful of set points and a wave of cheers to push them into flowstate. A wayward attack from Lion Yulia Glazko hit the final nail in the coffin as the Bold claimed the second set. 

Once again, TMU found themselves in a mouthwatering position, gaining a two set advantage. However, the Lions pounced as the Bold found themselves a little ahead of themselves. 

Once the first ball of the third frame flew, it was clear that third-year York outside hitter Victoria Herrington would be a problem, recording a whopping 14 kills and four service aces for her team. To all of York’s credit, the team embodied the mascot on their insignia, roaring back to take the third set in emphatic fashion, 25-12. 

Nevertheless, measures of time from the start of the third frame to the end of the fourth proved why adaptation was an asset for the Bold’s game. 

Dictating the scoreboard right from the jump, the girls in blue and gold cohered like an ocean as plays clicked and wavelengths synced. TMU ran ahead to lead 12-6, completely putting the memory of their momentary flounder in the rearview mirror. 

Despite what seemed like a clear run to the end, the match did not skimp on any nailbiting drama as a wise timeout for York allowed the Lions to close back in, whittling down the gap to 13-13. 

However, incredible digs from first-year setter/libero Mattea Di Bacco, clutch serves from Krahn and ruthless kills from second-year middle Julia Breen steadied the ship until the Bold sailed themselves to a 24-20 lead. The last serve that left Krahn’s hand had Drewniak on her knees, and the crowd on their feet as the Bold, for a second night in a row, brought it home, at home. 

After the match, head coach Dustin Reid had reflective insights on the team’s performance.

“I don’t think we played our best today, and our opponent played a really great, really tough match. They were so difficult to play against,” said Reid. “For us to just hang in there, especially when we didn’t have our best performance in the third set, I really hope that can give us the belief that we can win games without having to play our best.”

Reid hailed his team’s maturity on the court, especially after the Bold dropped a tough third set.

“We stuck together out there…our opponent had periods of play where they were just blocking and taking everything and serving tough, and we didn’t freak out,” said Reid. “We didn’t get frustrated with one another, we didn’t lash out because things weren’t going well…I think a lot of people demonstrated some good [leadership].” 

Though they graduated a handful of seniors last season, the Bold are coming together to build an unstoppable entourage, and if their wins at home prove anything, they are already proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

UP NEXT: The Bold will head to North Bay, Ont. to take on the Nipissing University Lakers on Oct. 31. First serve flies at 6:00 p.m.