Canada’s men’s volleyball team defeated by U.S. in NORCECA Continental Championship final
Canada’s men’s volleyball team fell to the United States in the gold-medal match at the NORCECA Continental Championship on Sunday night, suffering a 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-22) loss in Charleston, West Va.
Veteran opposite Matt Anderson led the U.S. to its first championship since 2017 with a match-high 16 points on 12 attacks, two blocks and two aces.
The Americans went undefeated in Charleston, topping Suriname, Puerto Rico and Cuba in group play before besting the Dominican Republic in the semifinals.
Canadian outside hitter Stephen Maar led the team in the final with 12 points on 10 attacks, one block and one ace. Opposite Arthur Szwarc added eight points on eight attacks as Canada took home its second straight silver medal at the tournament.
The U.S. led Canada in attack points (44-31) and blocks (5-3), while the Canadians led in aces (4-3). The Americans scored 23 points on Canadian errors while surrendering 18.
“Today the U.S. was very strong, but we could do a lot better,” Canada head coach Tuomas Sammelvuo said in a release. “We lost the game in service and passing .. we couldn’t stop the speed of their offence and we were struggling with our attacking.
“We will analyze this tournament, go back, and get ready for the Olympic qualification. We’ll get back to work!”
The FIVB Olympic qualifiers run from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 in Brazil, China and Japan. Canada will compete in Group C in China with Poland, Argentina, Mexico, Belgium, the Netherlands and China.
Cuba claimed bronze earlier on Sunday by beating the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-16).
Canada was defeated in straight sets by Puerto Rico in last year’s final in Durango, Mexico.
The Canadian women’s team captured the bronze medal at the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship last Sunday on home soil in Quebec City.
Canada roster
- Jordan Canham — Avonmore, Ont.
- Samuel Cooper — Hamilton, Ont.
- Landon Currie — Vernon, B.C.
- Danny Demyanenko — Toronto
- Pearson Eshenko — Banff, Alta.
- Luke Herr — Winnipeg
- Nicholas Hoag — Sherbrooke, Que.
- Eric Loeppky — Steinbach, Man.
- Justin Lui — Pickering, Ont.
- Stephen Maar — Aurora, Ont.
- Jordan Schnitzer — Surrey, B.C.
- Arthur Szwarc — Toronto
- Lucas Van Berkel — Edmonton
- Brett Walsh — Calgary
