Bold inch closer to playoffs with four-set win over Western

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s volleyball team picked up their third consecutive win on Wednesday evening, topping the Western Mustangs in four sets (25-22, 25-20, 27-29, 25-20) to catapult further towards claiming a lucrative spot in the OUA playoffs. 

Wednesday’s victory moved TMU (11-5) into sole possession of the league’s fifth playoff spot and further distanced the Toronto side from their midweek opponent in the standings. 

The Bold – winners in four of their last five games – had an opportunity to shut the Mustangs out in the third set but failed to capitalize on either of their two chances. 

The group would later put a stamp on their midweek victory in the fourth set, breaking open a 19-19 tie with a 7-1 run to claim the win. 

TMU’s Scarlett Gingera led the Bold contingent with 21 kills and a .319 hitting percentage in the win. Ashley Ditchfield rounded out her statline in a memorable way as well, finishing the evening with four service aces, seven blocks and five kills to help extend the Bold’s to winning ways. 

“[In] high-pressure moments, I think we did a really good job in keeping ourselves together and staying calm,” said Gingera following Wednesday’s win. 

TMU began shifting through their gears in the early goings of the opening set. Julie Gordon sparked the Bold to a quick 7-0 run to take an early stranglehold of the frame before being subbed off for reinforcements. 

“[Julie] is a fabulous talent, great athlete and can play all over the court…she made some big plays tonight in key moments,” praised head coach of the Bold Dustin Reid.

The move by Reid failed to materialize into expediting his side’s winning ways however, with the Mustangs rallying eight-consecutive points before pulling into an even score with the home side. 

TMU were able to escape the early collapse thanks to a kill and block combination from Kylie Ferguson to fuel a crucial 5-0 run and close off the initial frame.

After claiming victory in the second set, the Bold struggled to put a scrappy Western side away in the match’s third and fourth sets. 

The fourth set proved to present the Bold with the biggest challenge of the night after allowing the Mustangs to cut their lead in half during the closing stages of the third set. 

The two teams struggled to get a leg up on one another throughout the lion’s share of the final set, never establishing anything more than a four point lead before finally coming away with the set win. 

The group will be back in action on Friday as they kick off a weekend series with Trent and look to move further ahead in the OUA playoff picture. Tip off on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.