Canada’s sitting volleyball groups shone on Saturday at the world championships, with a gap victory in opposition to Slovenia on the ladies’s facet, whereas the men swept Poland after a three-set loss to Germany.
Eyeing a first-ever medal at the occasion, the Canadian ladies posted a 25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22 win in Pool B motion in Sarajevo.
“It was nice to begin the occasion with a win,” stated head coach Nicole Ban, whose group positioned fourth at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. “We have not seen [10th-ranked] Slovenia for the reason that [Paralympic] qualifier in Halifax in early 2020 and each groups have improved so much.
“We had been in a position to play by means of the first-game nerves and compete beneath strain when it mattered. We will proceed to construct as we have now two robust opponents tomorrow.”
The sixth-ranked Canadians will face the reigning Paralympic champions from the United States within the morning adopted by a 2:30 p.m. ET date with No. 14 Iran within the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Our expertise might be essential as we might be examined immediately in spherical robin play,” Ban stated this week, referring to the Americans. “Slovenia and Iran [are] robust rivals as nicely.”
Canada misplaced to Brazil within the Paralympic bronze-medal recreation, a significant enchancment from its 2016 Summer Games debut in Rio, the place it positioned seventh.
Canada roster
- #2 Julie Kozun — Melfort, Sask.
- #3 Danielle Ellis (C) — White Rock, B.C.
- #4 Jennifer Oakes — Calgary
- #5 Payden Vair — Cardston, Alta.
- #6 Angelena Dolezar — St. Albert, Alta.
- #7 Anne Fergusson — Carleton Place, Ont.
- #8 Jolan Wong — Vermilion, Alta.
- #9 Sarah Melenka — Vegreville, Alta.
- #10 Jayme Lepp — Vancouver
- #11 Heidi Peters — Neerlandia, Alta.
- #14 Katelyn Wright — Edmonton
- #15 Felicia Voss-Shafiq — Burnaby, B.C.
- #16 Jennifer McCreesh — Smithers, B.C.
- #17 Allison Lang — Edmonton
The Canadian men took care of Poland by scores of 25-23, 25-16, 25-22.
“In our second match, we made some nice changes because of the tempo of play that Poland’s veteran lineup showcased,” defined head coach Jeff Smith. “Nasif Chowdhury got here off the bench to be the catalyst within the 3-0 win.
Different stage of growth
“Everyone performed nicely and caught to the sport plan. It was a fantastic staff win for this group and now we reset and plan for Brazil [on Sunday].”
Canada did not qualify for the 2020 Olympics and is at a distinct stage of growth in comparison with the ladies.
Smith stated the Thirteenth-ranked Canadians have a plan in place to realize their very own objectives in Sarajevo.
Canada will compete in Pool C with Brazil (No. 4), Germany (No. 8) and Poland (No. 16).
“We have developed a brand new offence that may go well with us very nicely in our pool,” stated Smith. “We need to play a sooner tempo recreation and depend on ball management and our defence as a part of our equation for achievement.
“We have seen Germany, Brazil, and match up very nicely in opposition to Poland. Our objective is to complete high 10 at world championships and I imagine the staff we have now can achieve this.”
Canada roster
- #2 Mikael Bartholdy — Calgary
- #3 Austin Hinchey — Edmonton
- #5 Nasif Chowdhury — Toronto
- #6 Bryce Foster — Thunder Bay, Ont.
- #7 Douglas Learoyd (C) — Calgary
- #9 Andrew Tucker — Brampton, Ont.
- #10 Christopher Bird — Brandon, Man.
- #11 José Rebelo — Saint-Hubert, Que.
- #13 Dariusz Symonowicz — Toronto
- #14 Connor Compton — Calgary
- #19 Jason Beaman — Vancouver