By Nicholas van der Ham

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s volleyball team fell to the Brock Badgers in four sets on Saturday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). 

After a tight four-set loss to Brock on Friday, TMU were unable to find a win in their season-opening weekend at home.

“It’s tough in the moment because it wasn’t a great game in terms of energy and the way we executed, so I think we’ve got to watch film and see what we can work on,” said TMU head coach Niko Rukavina.

The opening set was highly contested, but a pair of errors from fourth-year setter Declan Dunn and second-year right side Ross Buchanan gave Brock an 11-9 lead. The visitors expanded their advantage to 15-11 before Rukavina called a timeout. 

Improving to 17-15 upon return, TMU traded shots back and forth before the two sides found themselves almost neck and neck at 22-20. But the Badgers, leveraging high-velocity attacks and strong blocks, maintained their advantage, taking the first frame 25-21. 

In the second set, Brock once again edged ahead in a gritty affair. Second-year middle Aidan Suttie stepped up halfway through the frame to land a kill smack in the middle of Brock’s court at 16-14, but the Badgers protected their gap with diligence.

Brock’s fourth-year outside hitter Kyle Stodola proved a problem for TMU. After a marathon rally that left the Bold scrambling, Stodola punished fifth-year outside hitter Riley Donovan in the back corner, leaving the captain on his knees as the Badgers approached the set with just five points left to play, 20-16. 

Four points later, Stodola struck again, firing an ace past TMU’s defence–the ball hit the paint so fast, the Bold barely had time to lunge before the point was tallied on the scoreboard.

With their backs against the wall on set point, the Bold turned to Buchanan on serve in a bid to stay alive. But the Badgers shut the door immediately, securing the insurance set, 25-18.

Similarly, the third frame offered little separation, with both teams refusing to give an inch, locked at 11-11. Fourth-year setter Declan Dunn, who logged 19 attacks and three digs throughout the afternoon, shined on offence, setting up Buchanan for a delicate tip at 14-13, but Stodola responded in the very next point, hammering home his 17th attack.

TMU kept pace with the Badgers, neutralizing the deficit to 17-17. After an awkward pass from Dunn, Buchanan salvaged the play with another attack to the back line. Soon consolidating a three-point lead after Stodola blinked on attack, the Badgers bench called a timeout.

A timely decision, Brock returned by establishing neutral ground at 21-21. But, to the Bold’s dismay, Buchanan launched an attack past the lines, prompting Rukavina to call a timeout of his own.

The momentary delay did little to pacify the visitors, though, as a net violation from TMU soon granted Brock three set points. With fifth-year outside hitter Devin Cooney on serve, logging nine kills behind Stodola’s 10, the Bold got the ball in play, but Buchanan missing the sidelines again, sealed his team’s defeat, 25-21 in the decisive frame.

Though the result wasn’t what TMU were hoping for, Rukavina credited the team’s defence and mentioned it as an opportunity to grow for the next upcoming fixtures.

UP NEXT: The Bold will face off against the Royal Military College Paladins at the Kingston Military Community Sports Centre on Nov. 6. First serve flies at 7:30 p.m.