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The 2024-2025 season has already begun for some Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold teams such as men’s and women’s soccer and hockey, but men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball are quickly approaching.
“Fan interactions help us a lot on the ice, gives us energy, makes us work a little bit harder, and makes the game a little bit more intense, so it gives us a little bit more of a spark when we’re out there,” said Kevin Gursoy, MBA Master of Business and right-winger for the men’s hockey team.
According to Toronto Met Today, TMU students can attend all varsity sports games (hockey, soccer, volleyball and basketball) for free with their one card.
“I think fan engagement is crucial,” said Julie Gordon, assistant coach of the women’s volleyball team, “I would love to see a massive crowd at all of our matches where both sides of the bleachers are pulled out and fans are cheering and having a great time.”
The men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams, in particular, got knocked from the playoffs in February and early March by losing each of their respective matches according to TMU Bold Athletics, last school year.
The women’s basketball team fell to the Queen’s Golden Gaels 49-67 in the semifinals, while the men’s basketball team were defeated by the McMaster Marauders 67-74 in round one of the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the women’s volleyball team lost to the Brock Badgers 2-3 in the semifinals, the Badgers went on to win the OUA championship, while the men’s volleyball team did not make it to the postseason.
“The [number] of fans we can get to a game just brings a lot more energy and makes it more exciting for us, so to all the fans, come out and watch us play,” said Taylor Wenzel, setter for the men’s volleyball team in the Business Management program at TMU.
From cross town rivalry games to playoff rematches, the Bold have a list of matches that promises to excite TMU students.
“The atmosphere is just a completely different feeling for the people on the court and even the fans enjoy it more when there’s lots of people engaged in the sport,” said Wenzel.
Here is a list of key men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball matchups to look out for this season:
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team will be facing off against the Brock Badgers on Jan. 12 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). This will be the first time these teams will be meeting this season since the Bold bested them in the quarter finals of the playoffs last season which knocked the Badgers out of the postseason.
After trailing by 15 in the OUA quarterfinal match-up, the TMU Bold pushed for a 73-65 victory against the Badgers, who before this game, were unbeaten at home.
This game is particularly important because it will be the first time ex-assistant coach, Shae Dheensaw will be back at the MAC facing off against the Bold as the Badgers new head coach. Dheensaw, who spent three years with the Bold, assisted the then Rams to an undefeated season to win the OUA and USPORTS national title in the 2021-2022 season.
As of Oct. 10 2024, with Dheensaw as head coach, the Badgers have only played one exhibition game against the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds where they lost 65-78, while the TMU Bold women currently have a four-game win streak in exhibition games against the Bishop’s Gaiters (52-43), the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks (74-49), the Mohawk Mountaineers (71-51), and the McGill Redbirds (67-52).
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team will compete against the McMaster Marauders in a revenge game at the MAC on Feb. 1 2025. This will be the first time these two teams will be facing off against each since the heartbreaking 67-74 loss that kicked the Bold out of the postseason.
The Bold had defeated the Marauders both times they played against each other in the regular season, but could not get the job done when they needed the win the most.
As of Oct. 10 2024, the Marauders lost their first exhibition game against the Air Force Falcons (76-87), but defeated the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves (67-55), and the Keyano College Huskies (90-75).
On the other hand, the Bold have broken even on exhibition games winning two and losing two. They were defeated by the Air Force Falcons (55-62) and the Humber Hawks (74-78) and they beat University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves (70-50) and the UBC-Okanagan Heat (81-67).
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball team will face off against the Guelph Gryphons on Jan. 25 at the MAC. The Bold finished the regular season last year defeating the Gryphons in a two game six set sweep but started this season against them in an exhibition game and lost (3-2).
After losing key players such as Ashley Ditchfield and Lauren Veltman, who were both named First-Team All-Stars and having Julie Gordon move from player to assistant coach, and gaining a whole new group of girls such as Julia Breen, Livia Davenport and Hannah Bellai, the team have to learn to work together play together to have a good season.
The women have five more exhibition games before their regular season begins against the Windsor Lancers to whip each other into shape and learn how to work together to add W’s into their win column and go far into the postseason.
“In my opinion, being an entertainer is part of being an athlete, so it’s always fun to put what you’ve been training for on display for other people to enjoy,” said Gordon.
Men’s Volleyball
The men’s volleyball team will compete against their crosstown rivals the University of Toronto (UofT) Varsity Blues on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 at Goldring Centre in a subway series.
The Bold currently have a three game losing streak against the Varsity Blues and since November 2017 have defeated them three times and have been defeated by them 12 times.
“Really looking forward to the UofT game, they are our cross-town rival, and it’s always fun playing that team,” said Wenzel, “really trying to beat them this year.”
The last time the Bold played against the Varsity Blues was an exhibition game on Oct. 4 at the MAC. The Bold lost the game (3-2), but it was a tight game that could have gone either way when the Bold forced a fifth set.
Before this loss, the Bold started their preseason exhibition games at the Humber Tournament where they went undefeated winning every single set against the Humber Hawks, Cégep Limoilou, the Western Mustangs and the Fanshawe Falcons which resulted in them reigning victorious at the tournament.
Fans can watch this game and all away games on OUA.TV for free.
“Our school does a very good job of playing good music, hosting, and handing out awesome prizes during the game, so I would just encourage all students to come out to as many games as possible,” said Wenzel.
Reporter, On The Record, Fall 2024
