By Nazifa Amin

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) women’s volleyball team couldn’t overcome the Queen’s University Gaels on Sunday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC), falling in five hard-fought sets. 

The game comes after a 3-0 loss to the Western University Mustangs yesterday. Recently the Bold have been trending toward five-setters, playing four in their last six matches against the Seneca Polytechnic Sting, the Brock Badgers, and the Acadia Axewomen, only the latter of which would produce a win.

TMU opened the first set strongly, taking an 8-5 lead before Queen’s fought back to tie the score at 10-10, keeping the game competitive.

Despite trailing 17-20, TMU’s fourth-year outside hitter Marta Cerovic helped to regain momentum with powerful jump serves. With the score tied at 21-21, TMU finished off the first frame with an impressive but fine margin, 25-22. 

While the Bold maintained their strong performance in the second set and capped it off, 25-18, the Gaels responded in the third, countering TMU with a set of their own with an almost identical scoreline, 25-17.

“Our girls are learning how to feel that pressure, which is what the preseason is all about,” said acting head coach Julie Gordon.

The fourth set challenged TMU’s defence as Queen’s continued to dominate with consistent attacking. Despite the Gaels leading, third-year middle Rayanna Amos-Ross Fisher stood out at the net, working to disrupt their attacks.

TMU struggled with their rhythm and attacking errors, tipping the momentum back to Queen’s as they opened the largest gap of the afternoon, 25-12. 

The Gaels wasted no time, carrying their momentum into the fifth frame and sealing the match, 15-8. 

“I think that we are focusing on the right things today, which is all that I can ask from the girls. It’s a great opportunity for these girls to understand playing back-to-back, as our home opener approaches on October 30,” said Gordon.

UP NEXT: The Bold will take on the University of Guelph Gryphons at the Gryphon Centre on Oct. 23. First serve is set for 7 p.m.