Rosters naturally shift with the turn of the season, but the true measure of a program lies in how recruits evolve and grow over the years.
Following a 5-15 campaign that saw seven first-year recruits tested on the court, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s volleyball team enters the 2026-27 season with a dynamic mix of rising talent and battle-tested veterans.
“What excites me right now is having a veteran leadership group that can instill that leadership into the younger guys,” said head coach Niko Rukavina. “And then, as a head coach, when you have second years and younger players that are on the court already, it makes me excited about the chemistry that is going to build over the years.”
That chemistry was able to develop in full swing over the off-season. The team got to take a trip west, getting the opportunity to play up against Canada West teams and bond off the court against the backdrop of beautiful British Columbia. They continued to play in pre-season matchups closer to home, all in an effort to build and see what works.
This season, the veteran lineup consists of Riley Donovan, Tony Tanouchev, Declan Dunn, Day Westell, and Evan Moua – who is dealing with an injury but remains vital to the program. Donovan, alongside Dunn and Tanouchev, were named captains this season due to their all-around leadership.
“They are leading our team both on and off the court,” said Rukavina. “We have a young core, a young group with a lot of second years and a few first years and they have done a really good job of holding the guys accountable, but also being there to support them.”
Donovan has been a consistent presence for the volleyball program. The Australian outside hitter enters his fifth year, having already appeared in 20 matches and 74 sets during the 2025-26 season. Donovan leads the team in kills (198), blocks (26) and points (228). He was also named to the OUA All-Star Third-Team.
In the central orchestrator position is Dunn, a solid and reliable court presence who last season played 20 matches and 71 sets, recording 566 assists and 117 digs. Dunn talked about the focus for himself and the group.
“Our focus for the last few years, and especially me coming up as a setter, has always been accuracy over everything,” said Dunn. “You can be a deceptive setter, but it doesn’t matter if you can’t get the ball to where it needs to go. It comes down to the fundamentals first.”
Another ongoing fundamental is communication. Tanouchev, who stresses communication through every moment, returns to the court this season after suffering an injury that took him off the court for the majority of the 2025-26 season. Now back as libero, he joins the team in pushing a defensive mindset going into the season.
“The boys have taken the mindset of defence being something that we really want to buy into,” said Rukavina.
While Tanouchev was out last season, now second-year Ethan Lau stepped up to the plate as libero. Playing in 20 matches and 71 sets, he led the Bold with 129 digs (1.82/set) and was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team. Lau was one of three first years to make the All-Rookie Team, alongside Ross Buchanan and William Gimbert.
Buchanan played in 17 matches and 49 sets, recording 126 kills, 58 digs and 31 total blocks. The 6′ 7″ right side was a welcome addition to the team, finishing with 160 points and averaging three points per set.
Gimbert—another star among the rookies—appeared in 16 matches and 58 sets with the highest kill per set average on the team at 3.17 kills per set, tallying 184 kills total. In addition, he matched Buchanan with 58 digs for a total of 201.0 points.
Despite the immense promise the young talent flashed last season, the beginning of a new campaign sets entirely new expectations for the group. As one of the veterans, Donovan has noticed the continued growth and development of the entire roster.
“The guys are working really hard, putting a lot of time in the weight room, on the court and outside of volleyball, stretching, eating well and hanging out together,” said Donovan. “We’ve really been building our culture and our chemistry more and more. The younger guys are already doing so well and they have so much more potential and room to grow.”
That growth will be put to the test as new and returning faces step into larger roles. The team welcomes Darius Best—a York University transfer who was redshirted last season—as he makes his debut this season.
Now eligible to play, Best is a physical player who brings an explosive arm to the offence. He joins Brayden Walker, who has stepped into his role as an outside hitter as Gimbert recovers, and middle Aidan Suttie, who is set to carry a heavy offensive load for the team. Along with Donovan on the front line, the group form a well-balanced attack capable of handling high-volume play.
Beyond the technical side of the game, mindset and camaraderie are equally as important. Tanouchev, now entering his sixth year, stresses the importance of building a family culture off the court and guiding the younger guys through trials and tribulations of life as a student-athlete—a testament to his veteran leadership.
“I try to support them when I can, when it comes to stuff off the court and on the court,” said Tanouchev. “Guys know I’ve been around a long time, so they are always open to ask for support.”
“My role is to keep them level and just let them find their way to be the starter that they need to be and are going to be,” added Tanouchev.
As the Bold prepare to begin their season on Friday, Oct. 30, the focus remains firmly on executing the process, defining a solid team identity, and establishing an early winning momentum. Keeping the focus on the outcome is the goal and with a balanced roster, deep veteran leadership, and an elevated standard of play, the stage is set for an exciting campaign.
The opening set is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST. Students can watch the action at the Mattamy Athletic Centre for free with their OneCard. The game can also be viewed live on oua.tv.
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