Bold grab first win of the season in sweep against Paladins

TORONTO – The TMU Bold men’s volleyball team was tasked with a doubleheader against the Royal Military College Paladins this weekend and earned a win in the first portion on Friday night.

The Bold have struggled to keep the lead in their last four games, and tonight, they were hungry for their first win of the season. 

The first set was exactly what the Bold needed: smooth sailing. The Paladins didn’t put up much of a fight and the Bold took control quickly, cruising to a first set win with a score of 25-17.

Bobby Tang hit the court with excitement and focus, taking every kill chance to send the Paladins chasing after the ball. He recorded a .500 hitting percentage by the second set and kept that consistent throughout the whole game. 

The Paladins fought hard in the second, looking to keep the score in reach, but it didn’t take long for the Bold to widen the gap. 

Taylor Wenzel shocked the Paladins with an electric kill, giving the Bold the 16th point in the second set. The crowd’s energy grew with each attack by the Bold, and the Paladins could see this game slipping from their hands. 

“Our opponent was…less physical, and we’ve been working hard at practice, so pretty happy with what we came out with,” said interim head coach, Niko Rukavina. 

In this game, the Bold came in with a whole new mentality, and losing was no longer an option. 

“We still have stuff to work on, and we have to stay motivated for tomorrow, but we’re in the win column, and that’s all that matters,” added Rukavina.

Tony Tanouchev brought his magic in the third set, racking up eight digs, and currently sits fifth in the league in digs. 

The third set was important for the Bold, especially while looking for their first win of the season. The three set sweep was all they wanted. 

Any attacking chances for the Paladins were immediately denied by middle Day Westell, who has been a great asset to the team in his first season with the Bold.

“I never imagined that I’d be in the place where I am right now and I appreciate it,” said Westell after the game.

The third set was a big opportunity for the Bold to shine on the court, as the Paladins struggled to catch up in score. 

The Bold racked up a total of 33 kills and 74 attacks, and it was nearly impossible at this point for the Paladins to make a comeback. 

In the final point, a service ace from Wenzel sealed the moment of the Bold’s victorious night. 

This win meant a lot for the Bold, as it changes the trajectory that they were on and now gives them a confidence boost for their upcoming games. 

Tomorrow the Bold will take on the RMC Paladins once again and are hoping to secure their second win this season. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m. as the team hosts their Pride Night game.