Cohesion key to women’s volleyball season ahead

TORONTO – If there is one thing TMU’s women’s volleyball program does really well, it may be taking the right steps at the right times. A steady crawl that turns to a unified march as the season rolls along. Always going forward and very rarely checking the rear view mirror to see what was.

At TMU it’s the fall of 2023 and a brand-new OUA season with national-championship aspirations draws near for the program. Despite losing key players to graduation following last year’s 12-9 regular season – including the likes of Katelyn Grasman, Bethany Smith and Julie Moore – the confidence within the group remains untouched as they prepare to turn the page towards a new era. 

Outside hitter Lauren Veltman knows all about shifting eras and what it takes to do so. Listed as the only player within the roster to have played in the program’s last and only championship-winning season, Veltman has both the experience and taste of winning to help expedite the process. 

After spending last year playing professional volleyball in Sweden, Veltman elected to make her return to TMU and be a crucial leader both on and off the court this season. Even without the same contingent of last year’s veterans taking the court in 2023, the fifth-year doesn’t feel bothered about being the senior leader of the group, and looks to embrace the role in any way possible. 

“I feel like whenever seniors leave there is always some type of thing going on in your head where it’s like ‘ok well now it’s my time to step up and be a leader,'” mentioned Veltman, adding that the team’s spirits are at an all-time high entering the new year. 

The outside hitter has already begun mentoring the Bold’s young core in preseason practices and games, most notably working on ramping up the intensity in training to help ease the transition into the high-pressure situations that present themselves within an OUA season. 

This exemplified form of leadership from Veltman has already garnered praise from TMU’s managerial staff including the likes of lead assistant coach, Brett Hagarty, who believes the skill set in which her lonesome fifth-year brings is exponential in value. 

“When [Veltman] says something, everyone is listening. It is amazing to have her back,” added Hagarty. 

Among those tuning in to Veltman’s vocal leadership include the half a dozen athletes making their debuts for TMU this season. Elise Pridmore, Megan Kesner, Kaiya Krahn, Darcie Buchanan, Tyra Krapp and Marta Cerovic round out the herd of players looking to start their Bold chapter in the coming months. 

“[The rookies] bring a lot of different, excellent things to the team,” said Veltman.

“They bring competition, a great work ethic, and dedication to every single thing we do,” added Hagarty. 

The Bold assistant coach has been pleased with the showing of her young core leading up to the new year and believes the group’s ability to capitalize on opportunities will bring the team on court success this season. 

The Bold kick off their 2023-24 campaign with six of their nine games within the fall semester being played on home court. Having finished last season with an 8-2 record at the MAC, Hagarty believes replicating that form of success throughout this season will be inevitable. 

“I think anytime you play at home it’s special,” she said, adding that the energy the Bold get from playing behind the home crowd makes her side “unbeatable.”

Hosting a playoff game remains one of the leading objectives for Hagarty and the Bold this season – a feat the team has yet to do since 2020. The young wave of incoming talent has better positioned TMU towards their goal of becoming a dynasty within not just the OUA space, but throughout all of U SPORTS.

“We’re ready to really make a dent in the OUA,” mentioned Hagarty. 

Having a relentless and aggressive identity will help turn this bold thought into action throughout the course of the fall and winter semesters, with the DNA of the squad being TMU’s strongest weapon within its arsenal. 

“Our team is a real team. Everyone is contributing on the court and off the court. [We] seem to be a team that always has each other’s backs,” added Hagarty. 

“It’s a really special place to be.”

The Bold will get their season underway on Friday when they welcome the visiting Western Mustangs to town for a 6 p.m clash. The first step towards replicating a dynasty at TMU starts this weekend.