PLAYOFF PREVIEW: OUA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL QUARTER-FINAL

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s volleyball team will make a short trip down the road to face the TMU Bold in the first round of the OUA playoffs this Saturday (Feb. 24) night inside the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

The Blues enter the quarter-final contest having won their last six regular season matches, finishing fifth overall in the OUA standings with a 13-7 (W-L) record. Despite a slow start to the 2023-24 campaign, which saw U of T enter the winter break with a .500 record of 4-4, the Blues have rebounded in the second half of the season picking up impressive victories over impressive opponents like Queen’s and Guelph. The Blues have rallied behind outstanding defensive play, which has seen U of T finish with the highest total digs in the province, including four separate players with over 100 digs registered this season.

Meanwhile, TMU sits just one position ahead of U of T in the standings with a final regular season mark of 15-5. Much like the Blues, the Bold have also put together a string of wins to finish out the regular season, winning their last seven straight matches. This run includes three consecutive wins in straight sets ahead of the OUA postseason. The Bold have been efficient in their attack this season, being one of only four teams in the entirety of the OUA to finish the season with an attacking percentage above .200. The Bold rank third in the province averaging 12.02 kills per set.

SCHEDULE
Saturday, Feb. 24 | 6 p.m.
Mattamy Athletic Centre
Live Stats
Watch

2023-24 STAT LEADERS
Toronto
Points: Olivia Zhu | 337.5 points
Kills: Olivia Zhu | 292 kills
Service Aces: Olivia Zhu | 33 aces
Blocks: Anna Gadomski | 60 blocks
Assists: Robin Melnick | 368 assists
Digs: Delaney Watson | 350 digs

TMU
Points: Lauren Veltman | 221.0 points
Kills: Lauren Veltman | 197 kills
Service Aces: Mikayla Sherriffs | 25 aces
Blocks: Ashley Ditchfield | 84 blocks
Assists: Sarah Zonneveld | 596 assists
Digs: Mary Rioflorido | 257 digs

HISTORY
Last Five:
Feb. 4, 2023 | Toronto 3, TMU 1
Nov. 12, 2022 | TMU 3, Toronto 1
Feb. 19, 2022 | Toronto 3, TMU 1
Feb. 18, 2022 | Toronto 3, TMU 0
Nov. 21, 2021 | Toronto 3, TMU 1