By Naomi Low

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) women’s volleyball team stormed to a straight-sets 3-0 win against the University of Waterloo Warriors at the Mattamy Athletic Center (MAC) on Saturday evening.

The Bold banished all memories of Friday’s four-set winter homecoming loss in a dominant opening frame. 

In a lopsided first set that saw the Bold log 17 kills to Waterloo’s four, head coach Dustin Reid praised the team’s sharp start.

“Quite proud of the team for coming out prepared after a tough night last night,” Reid reflected. “Our level of play in the first set, the way we came out, the way we were executing on our side of the net was the highest level we’ve reached this season.”

After lots of one-way traffic, things heated up late in the frame following a nearly 20-second rally that ended with third-year outside-hitter Kaiya Krahn sinking her sixth kill of the set, putting the Bold within six points of taking the opener. 

Momentum stalled moments later when second-year left-side hitter Sydney Batiuk collapsed mid-rally at 21-8, clutching her knee. Swiftly assisted off the court, the Warriors called a timeout to re-center their side but made no changes. 

“Anytime you have an injury that looks serious in a game, it can overshadow the game itself or sort of transcend what’s happening on the court,” Reid noted. 

The Warriors managed just two more points before the set ended, capped by second-year middle Ayla Cross’s third kill of the frame.

The second set proved tighter competition. The Bold kept a small point margin at 17-14, before a kill from fourth-year middle Avery Isaacs and consecutive aces from second-year right-side hitter Stella McKenna pulled Waterloo even.

The Bold called a wise timeout.

Krahn delivered immediately upon return, searing back-to-back kills. An attack error by Waterloo’s second-year outside-hitter Ela Low-Ring, the very next point, yielded the separation the Bold needed. 

Reid took note of Krahn’s contributions. 

“I really think Kaiya’s aggressiveness and hitting the ball high above the net where the blockers can’t get her as easily was a real breakthrough for her in this match.”

After a flurry of Waterloo errors, the Bold were able to steal the second set, 20-25. 

In the last set, the Bold had to dig deep. 

“At the start of the third set, our opponent was really pushing back hard, credit to them,” Reid acknowledged. “We handled those periods with some patience, a little bit of resilience, and ultimately made things happen at the end.”

Kills from Isaacs and third-year setter Madison Seo gave the Warriors an early lead, 4-1.

But the Bold stayed close in the remaining frame, slowly cutting the deficit to just one point at 12-13.

A strong serve from Krahn set up a fluid sequence for the team as fourth-year outside hitter Darcie Buchanan finished it to put the Bold level with Waterloo at 13-13. 

The teams traded points until a Bold block, an attack error by McKenna and two more from Low-Ring opened a 19-15 advantage for TMU. 

Buchanan consolidated with three consecutive kills, putting her team within three points of match point. 

Late efforts by Isaacs and second-year left-side Berkley Kynnedy MacLean tried to stop the bleeding, but it wouldn’t be enough as Buchanan logged her 14th kill of the match, sealing victory for her team. 

The win moves the Bold closer to an Ontario University Athletics playoff spot. With four matches remaining, TMU sits 10th at 7-9, needing to climb to eighth or higher to qualify.

“What an exciting opportunity for our young team to play meaningful games,” said Reid. 

UP NEXT: The Bold will take on the University of Guelph Gryphons at the Gryphon Centre on Jan. 30. First serve flies at 6 p.m.