By Nicholas van der Ham

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s volleyball team dispatched the Trent University Excalibur in three sets on Saturday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). 

Last weekend, the Bold showed resilience during their two-game road series, bouncing back from a five-set loss against the Royal Military College Paladins on Nov. 6 with a straight-sets victory the following day.

TMU head coach Niko Rukavina relished the home atmosphere, saying that “having our fans and family there to support us, so we’re feeling less pressure that way” helped the team’s confidence during the match.

Today’s result extends TMU’s unbeaten home record against Trent to 8-0 and their winning streak against the Excalibur to 17 matches. Trent, meanwhile, remain without a victory this season and fall to last in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men’s volleyball standings. 

Both teams traded kills to open the first set, with fourth-year Trent outside hitter Jack Curtis striking twice in the opening 10 points and logging 20 total attacks by the end of the afternoon. Bold second-year outside hitter Brayden Walker responded with three of his own kills to help TMU to an 11-10 lead. 

Trent’s third-year outside hitter Brock Drover kept the Bold on their toes throughout the match, though, finding open space along the sidelines even as TMU began building their advantage. 

After fourth-year setter Declan Dunn went down on an unsuccessful diving attempt, fifth-year captain Riley Donovan was quick to rally his teammate, hoisting him to his feet to finish the frame. The Bold proceeded to capitalize on consecutive Trent errors to close out the set, 25-18.

TMU picked up where they left off in the next frame, building out a healthy 20-13 lead, thanks to key kills from Bold second-year right side, Ross Buchanan. 

“Knowing your team trusts you is the best feeling in the world, so them going to me in tight situations is a very big compliment, and obviously, I trust them as well in those same situations,” said Buchanan.

But the Excalibur refused to be extinguished quietly. A string of attacking errors allowed Trent to cut the gap to 23-21, imposing their offence late in the frame.

A timely kill from TMU second-year middle Aidan Suttie brought his side within set point. Swiftly converting an attacking error from Trent’s second-year middle, Tyler Field, the Bold claimed the set, 25-21.

In the third frame, both teams struggled to find their form. Buchanan continued his firepower from the outside, but TMU’s hitting percentage told its own story, dropping from a .379 in the first frame to just .115 in the third. Trent faced a similar struggle in the set as their hitting percentage dropped to a dire -.037. Both teams hemorrhaging the most attacking errors of the afternoon, with the Bold committing seven while Trent racked up nine.

A squabble over a scoring decision midway through the frame saw Trent call two consecutive timeouts. Though the stoppage may have halted TMU’s small advantage on the scoreboard, the home side proved their resilience as Donovan sealed the straight-sets victory with a service ace, 25-20.

UP NEXT: The Bold will wrap up their last homestand of the year tomorrow against Trent. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. at the MAC.