On November 9 the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s volleyball team faced the Brock Badgers in an exciting home game at Goldring Centre. The match started at 6 p.m., with the Blues looking to build upon their positive start to the season.
The game began on a high note for Toronto, as they secured the first set 25-19, showcasing their control and precision. However, momentum shifted dramatically as Brock bounced back to take the second set 25-16, followed by two additional set wins (25-16, 25-19) to close out the match. Toronto struggled to regain their initial rhythm after the second set, unable to fend off Brock’s surging momentum and aggressive gameplay.
Individually, Toronto had standout performances from several players. Hunter Arulpragasam led with 15 kills, while Jayden Talsma followed closely, contributing nine kills. Michael Hickey led in assists with 29, supporting the team’s attacking efforts. From the service line, Michael Hickey and Jayden Talsma each recorded two service aces. Arulpragasam also led in total points for the Blues with a strong showing of 16 points.
The Badgers brought their best performance against Toronto. Led by players such as Devin Cooney and Kylar Code, the Badgers’ strong defense and strategic serves proved challenging for the Blues to counter, ultimately securing them the comeback win.
In summary, while the Blues showcased a promising start, they ultimately fell to the Badgers in a hard-fought match. Toronto will look to rebound and refine their play as they continue their season. The Blues travel to Windsor next week (November 15-16) to face the Lancers, with first serve on Friday, November 15 scheduled for 8 p.m. The game will be streamed online via oua.tv.