TORONTO — If the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's volleyball team's 2025-26 season could be described as anything, it was growth. Going into the 2026-27 season, this team is taking that growth and solidifying it with one expectation in mind: compete and fight for a spot in the playoffs.
 
"Out of all my years here… this is the year that I think we could really go far," said outside hitter Darcie Buchanan.

Buchanan led the Bold last year in kills, tallying 175 on the season and ranked second in service aces. Despite being unable to start the season, the fourth-year veteran has a positive outlook for the year ahead.

"The team has been working really hard in the off-season," said Buchanan. "It's been a bit different this year, but it's been really good."
 
Heading into this season, the Bold's roster looks similar. The most notable departure is that of outside hitter Hannah Bellai. Another adjustment comes from the coaching staff, where assistant coach Julie Gordon is now stepping up into the role of acting head coach to begin the year.
 
"I'm navigating it with as much ease as I can," says Gordon. "There's a lot of trust between myself and the athletes that we've taken a number of years to build."
 
Even with the adjustment in coaching, the goal remains the same.

"I would say competing," said Gordon. "Being able to hang tough through close battles. I think there were a lot of opportunities last year that there were some very close matches, but just because were a younger team [then], that maybe we weren't ready to hang in there all the time."
 
At the conclusion of their last season, the Bold had eight sets in seven different games that were pushed past 25 points. In those eight sets, the Bold won three of them. However, in the two matches the Bold pushed to five sets, they prevailed. The team also improved their win column by five games compared to their 2024-25 season. The team finished one spot shy of a playoff berth but the improvement is a signal of the team's grit and desire to continue to raise their competitive standard of play.
 
The Bold boast a well-seasoned team entering the new season. Returning at middle for their third year are Ayla Cross, Julia Breen and Rayanna Amos-Ross Fisher. Elise Pridmore and Tyra Krapp are also entering their final year of eligibility. Even with a few injuries, the pins still see veteran athletes like Marta Cerovic and Rian Lenarduzzi.
 
Comparatively, Mattea Di Bacco will move into a libero position joining Livia Davenport. Davenport led the team in digs last year with 194. Di Bacco's experience as a setter in the previous season will only improve her game, and Davenport's confidence and experience has set up the Bold's back line to be a dangerous one. Their defence ranked second in the OUA in digs at 1079 and 14.99 digs per set on the season.
 
"[Davenport and Di Bacco] both have their own strengths that are different," said Gordon. "It depends on what our team needs in any given match."
 
OUA all-rookie team member Sadie Bird returns for her second year with a wealth of experience now in university ball.

"She's worked so hard in the off-season," said teammate Buchanan. "I see such a difference, like finding gaps and finding one-on-ones with the blockers."
 
Bird also feels the growth within herself.

"I think I've grown a lot as a player. I see my role on the team being more team-focused and putting my teammates before myself because that is something that's more important now than before in my volleyball," said Bird. "[It's] learning every single person's individual differences and learning how I can make them successful."
 
Four new rookies are set to join the squad. Their presence injects the team with an infectious eagerness and enthusiasm. 
 
"We have some young rookies that are holding their own in pre-season and getting lots of playing time," said Coach Gordon.
 
Qadira Shakespeare, Mia Causevic, and Makenna Williams will play at either end of the pins. Celeste Pelletier joins Bird in the setter position.
 
The athletes also share the same sentiments as their coach.

"I'm really excited for this season because we have some great new additions to our team," said Cross. "Just adding more depth on our pins and also a new setter."
 
"They're fitting in really well. A lot of raw talent too," said Buchanan.
 
Williams is finding ways to fit in as she leverages her immense strength to the front row, not only in her height, but in her hops.
 
"She touches 10'3, which is the highest of our whole roster," said Buchanan. "It's cool watching her grow. I think she's going to make an impact in her first year."
 
The rookies have shown out in the pre-season. In their Oct. 18 match against the Queen's Gaels, Williams totalled nine kills and Shakespeare notched two aces. Pelletier also recorded 14 assists across two games.
 
Coach Dustin Reid's mission last year was about creating the team culture. The endeavour was a huge success.
 
"We've had lots of bonding to really connect us and get on the same wavelength as what our goals are for the season and what we want to achieve," said Cross.
 
This year's squad has not only continued to foster team culture, but they have also made strides in all aspects to grow their game.
 
Gordon has introduced a new approach she calls 'mental gym.'
 
"We always say there are three fundamentals," said Bird about the concept. "There's technical, mental and then we have a strength coach."

"We have our technical coaches but we haven't really had someone to work on the mental side of the game," added Bird. "We [added] a mental performance coach, which is really cool."
 
Coach Gordon's mission behind the mental gym is to "strengthen our conviction of ourselves and our ability to be resilient."
 
The expectation is for the mental training to translate into the physical game in their ability to close out long rallies.

Cross elaborated on how she thinks they can adapt in those moments of the game: "I think it just goes back to our connectedness as a team and knowing in our core that we can get through those hard situations."
 
Another strength of the Bold heading into the season is their viewpoint on leadership within the team. Krapp and Davenport may hold the official captain's titles on the court, but the responsibility of leadership can fall on anyone.

"I'm a big fan of there being no titles to leadership," said Gordon. "There are countless examples on our team of how girls lead in different ways."
 
Whether it is on the court, in practice or within the team, each athlete has an opportunity to lead in their own way.

"I think we have had a great leadership group this year and that's really driving the competitiveness of our practices," Cross explained.

"I think we've been doing so much work… with the culture and changing it to be something new. I'd really like to be someone that spearheaded that," Buchanan added.
 
Moving into the regular season after a competitive preseason, the Bold have their eyes set on the fundamentals of volleyball.
 
"I've been working on consistency and a lot of technical work we've been doing in the summer just to set better balls," said Bird.

Ayla Cross reflected the same attitude around consistency on the court: "This year I really want to bring in more of an offensive role and just get as many kills as I can and always be available for the setters to find me."
 
While the matches have shown noticeable improvement for the Bold, there are equally visible areas for improvement.

"Every match is a test. But in my opinion, the true work is done in the practice environment," said Gordon.
 
"The difference between last year and this year coming into the pre-season is we've never been so focused," said Bird. "There's definitely a difference in focus and intention." 
 
On the season, the Bold face tough matchups of the likes of Queen's and Brock, but this squad is no stranger to adversity. They wield an established style of play and the veteran experience to fight through and finish out close battles.

"I think we have the potential to have a really great season and playoff run," said Cross.
 
The Bold begin their season at home at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Friday, October 30 against the Lakehead Thunderwolves. The game also marks the team's annual "Block Party" event.

First serve is set for 5:00 pm EST and students are encouraged to "pack the MAC" where they can attend for FREE with their one card.