Bold secure first win of 2024

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. – The Bold are on the board. After falling in back-to-back contests last week against the Western Mustangs, TMU responded with an incredible comeback victory (20-25, 30-28, 20-25, 25-16, 15-13) against Trent on Friday night. The win helps the Bold in their climb back towards .500, as they move to 3-7. They currently sit in 9th place in the OUA.

The Bold found themselves down early against the winless Excalibur, trailing 5-0 before an early timeout. Following the break TMU tried to battle their way back into the set with a Kai Highuchi kill helping kickstart a short run for the Bold. Trent managed to keep pace with the Bold attack, however, carrying their five point lead to 12-7. After a Trent service error brought the deficit to three, and then a strong Jacob Walker service game brought the score to within one. However Trent would rally off three straight points, restoring their hold on the set. Unforced errors set the Bold back in the set, and ultimately sunk their chances to save a set victory, as a service error gave Trent a 25-20 set victory.

The second set saw the Bold once again struggle in its early stages. Entering tonight’s contest, the Excalibur had won five sets in its previous eight contests, however capitalized on TMU mistakes to build a three-point lead in the second set. 

The Bold would again battle back, drawing level at fourteen. From there, the set was a back and forth affair with neither team able to grab a definitive advantage. That was until Trent exploded for a 6-0 run to put them two points from a second consecutive set victory. After a misplayed ball gave Trent set point, frantic scrambles won the Bold two consecutive points to force extra points. The Bold would stave off four set points before TMU would finish off the Excalibur at 30-28.

The back and forth battle between the two sides continued in the third set. Service errors prevented the Bold once again from grabbing momentum, however the Excalibur also struggled to put long runs together. As the teams drew even at eleven, it marked a stretch going back to the last set where neither team had won more than two consecutive points. That streak would be broken after Trent jumped to a 14-11 lead before TMU once again drew level at fifteen. Despite being tied in sets and points, the Bold had trailed for nearly the entire contest. 

Things would remain even until a big block by Trent opened a two-point cushion at 21-19. From there the Excalibur would finish with a 4-1 run, putting the Bold on the ropes.

TMU would open an early lead in the fourth set, claiming a 5-2 advantage in the early stages. However the Excalibur would work their way back, as the Bold fought to build a sizable advantage. They would struggle to stretch their lead beyond three before a Liam Cobb service game helped stretch the lead to seven at 14-7. It would be a lead that the Bold would hold onto, forcing a fifth and final set with a 25-16 win.

The fifth set was a fitting end to an even match. Each point by TMU was answered by Trent, and vice versa. When the teams switched sides, TMU held just an 8-6 advantage, setting up a frantic finish to a contest that didn’t lack excitement.

The Bold and Excalibur would trade points following the midway point of the set, with Trent cutting the lead to one at 13-12. Following frantic dives by the Bold, Trent would level the final set at thirteen but immediately gave the Bold match point. On the final point, after multiple blocks by the Excalibur, a Riley Donovan hit was just enough to break the Trent wall, giving TMU an amazing five set win.

The Bold are back in action tomorrow in a rematch of tonight’s incredible contest, as they finish a doubleheader against Trent before taking on McMaster next week.