Mustangs outlast Bold in five set thriller to open season

TORONTO – The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s volleyball squad opened their 2023-24 campaign on the losing end of a five-set battle with the Western Mustangs earlier tonight, dropping the match in sets of 25-19, 24-26, 25-18, 26-28, 14-16. 

Scarlett Gingera put her offence into high gear in the opening match of the season, throwing down a team-leading 21 kills in the losing effort. Lauren Veltman also played a lively role in shaping TMU’s fighting form, picking up 20 points in her first game back with the Bold since the spring of 2021. 

“It felt really good being in an OUA regular season game again,” mentioned Veltman following the match. 

It was a first impression to remember from the Bold in their opening set of the season, quickly taking care of the Mustangs by a 25-19 score. Veterans Gingera and Veltman flexed the group’s offensive muscles through much of the first set, recording seven and four kills respectively to grab the match’s early edge. 

The Bold showed signs of being a well-matured and confident side from the moment the opening serve flew from the powering right hand of Ashley Ditchfield to kick things off. Whenever the Mustangs showed any form of life on the attack, the Bold were able to defuse the pressure with ease and continue to stack their lead. 

“I think we did get off to a good start…Western had trouble keeping up with what we were trying to do,” said head coach Dustin Reid. 

Despite being unable to grab a lead of their own throughout the first set, Western’s offensive abilities – the same cohesion that finished second in the OUA last season in kills – roared to life in the preliminary stages of the second frame. 

Led by veterans Kendra McEwan and Devin Gerth, the visitors jumped to a quick 7-0 lead to stun TMU’s early momentum. Once more, Ditchfield and Gingera provided the Bold with a much-needed dose of difference to help climb back into the set. Smashing down a pair of kills each, the strong efforts from the two heavy swingers wouldn’t be enough to knock the Mustangs off their high horse. 

With the score tied at one apiece, the Bold showed resilience as they worked to regain another advantage in the match. A third set featuring consecutive blocks, aces, and four kills from Gingera paved the way to TMU’s 25-18 set win to push Western to the brink. 

“I was really happy with how we battled defensively,” mentioned Reid. “We’re not even close in that match if [Gingera] doesn’t perform the way she did,” he added. 

A quick turnaround from the visitors forced a pivotal fifth and final set in the season’s opening contest. Despite coming back into the set after facing an early five-point deficit, the Bold would eventually fall to the Mustangs by a 16-14 score.

The group will get a shot at revenge over Western tomorrow afternoon on home soil. First serve from the MAC flies at 4 p.m.