OTTAWA – Canada took a giant step towards returning to the FIVB World League next year defeating Slovakia 28-26, 25-17, 25-17 on Saturday to win the two-match first round qualifying series.
With the victory, the Canadians take the series based on total sets for and against. The Slovakians won the first match of the series on Friday night in four sets.
"It was finally our time to show we are a good team too,’’ said Canadian team captain Fred Winters of Victoria who led Canada with 17 points. ‘’We are ready to start having some strong international results and this was a great way to head into next month in which we’ll face more big challenges.’’
In the first set, barely a point ever separated two teams. With the score tied at 26-26, a Gavin Schmitt smash and a block by Ottawa’s Adam Simac put Canada up 1-0 in sets. With some needed confidence, the Canadians steamrolled over the Slovakians in the second set then overcame a 10-13 deficit in the third seal the match and the series before an appreciative crowd of nearly 2,000 fans at Scotiabank Place.
"For us this was a very big accomplishment,’’ said Canada’s head coach Glenn Hoag. ‘’These two matches were a great opportunity to evaluate our team which something we haven’t had a chance to do often in game situations. I hope our team can grow from this.’’
Toon Van Lankvelt of River, Man., added 16 points for the winners and Gavin Schmitt of Saskatoon 13.
Canada will now face Puerto Rico next month in Kingston, Ont., in another two sets series with the winner qualifying for the 2012 World League.
The last time Canada competed in the World League was in 2007 when it placed 13th. The FIVB World League, now in its 22nd year, is a 16-country intercontinental tournament that runs for over a 6 week period every summer and offers the biggest cash prizes in the sport.
The Slovakians were vying for a first ever World League appearance.
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Friday, July 29
Canada lost its opening match in first round of the FIVB World League qualifying on Friday night falling to Slovakia 28-26, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23 in the first of a two-match series.
With the victory, the Slovakians vying for a first ever berth in World League play, leads the series three points to zero. The series is based on a formula of the winning team earning three points for a 3-0 or 3-1 win in sets and two points for a 3-2 win. The loser in the first instance would receive 0 points and one point for a 3-2 loss.
‘’We played well at times but we miss playing more of these kinds of matches,’’ said Canada’s head coach Glenn Hoag. ‘’We don’t manage situations well at times and we made a couple of crucial errors in the third set and it cost us.’’
One of the many highlights for the 2,000 fans at Scotiabank Place was a great comeback by the Canadian team in the fourth. With Fred Winters of Victoria serving, the Canadians scored eight straight points to overcome a 12-20 deficit.
‘’The way the team reacted being down in the fourth was very good,’’ said Hoag. ‘’Dallas (Soonias) and Nick (Cundy) came in and really played well.’’
Gavin Schmitt of Saskatoon was the top Canadian scorer with 22 points while Winters and Toon Van Lankvelt of River, Man., added 13 apiece.
‘’We just have show the poise we had in the fourth set from the beginning of the match,’’ said Winters. ‘’We are way too tentative at times and we need to be more aggressive.’’
Divis Lukas led the Slovakian attack with 23 points while Milan Bencz and Emanuel Kohut added 14 each.
‘’I know my players want this and they are prepared for this,’’ said Slovakia’s coach Emanuele Zanini. ‘’They are good fighters and we are happy with this victory. But this is just the first step and we expect another fight tomorrow night.’’
Game 2 goes Saturday at Scotiabank Place at 7:30 pm. The winner of the series advances to the second round of qualifying next month.
The FIVB World League, now in its 22nd year, is a 16-country intercontinental tournament that runs for over a 6 week period every summer and offers the biggest cash prizes in the sport.
For more information: www.fivb.com and www.volleyball.ca
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July 28, 2011
OTTAWA – Adam Simac of Ottawa, who has battled injuries this season, returns to Team Canada’s line-up which was finalized today by head coach Glenn Hoag for the World League men’s volleyball qualifying matches against Slovakia this Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. at Scotiabank Place.
Numerous former Canada West student-athletes make up the Canadian roster, including Nicholas Cundy, Justin Duff, Gord Perrin, Dallas Soonias, Alxendre Gaumont-Casias, Toon van Lankvelt, Adam Kaminski, Dustin Schneider and Gavin Schmitt.
Friday and Saturday evening matches will be streamed live.
Simac, who played professionally in Europe this past winter, is one of several key players back on court for Canada after missing last month’s Pan Am Cup in which Canada won the bronze medal.
He suffered an Achille tendon injury which hampered his playing time with his pro club with Bled, Slovenia. Then a back injury forced him to miss the Pan Am Cup.
In fact Canada will field its strongest team since last year’s world championships with the return of Simac, Soonias of Red Deer, Alta., and Gaumont-Casias of Ville-Marie, Que., joining established stars such as Schmidt of Saskatoon, Dan Lewis of Oakville, Ont., and van Lankvelt of River, Man.
Canada is currently ranked 22nd in the world and Slovakia stands at 33rd. The Canadians advanced to the World League qualifier with their performance at the Pan Am Cup. Slovakia defeated Spain in five sets at the European Continental Cup to advance.
"Slovakia is one of the top 12 teams in Europe," said Hoag. "But we have a good chance to beat them and we have the advantage of being at home. We showed at the world championships last year that we can play at a very high level." Canada beat world number-five Serbia in round robin play at the worlds in Italy.
Other players on the Canadian lineup are Cundy of Edmonton, Duff of Winnipeg, Schneider of Brandon, Man., Steve Brinkman of Bowmanville, Ont., Kaminski of Chatham, Ont., Fred Winters of Victoria, Perrin of Creston, B.C., and Richard Wilcox of Calgary.
The last time Canada competed in the World League was in 2007 when it placed 13th. The FIVB World League, now in its 22nd year, is a 16-country intercontinental tournament that runs for over a 6 week period every summer and offers the biggest cash prizes in the sport.
The winner of this weekend’s series will be based on a formula of the winning team earning three points for a 3-0 or 3-1 win in sets and two points for a 3-2 win. The loser in the first instance would receive 0 points and one point for a 3-2 loss.
Canadian roster for the World League qualifier series vs Slovakia July 29-30 at Scotibank Place in Ottawa:
Team Canada
Nicholas Cundy, Edmonton
Dan Lewis, Oakville, Ont.
Justin Duff, Winnipeg
Dallas Soonias, Red Deer, Alta.
Adam Simac, Ottawa
Dustin Schneider, Brandon, Man.
Toon Van Lankvelt, River, Man
Steve Brinkman, Bowmanville, Ont.
Gavin Schmitt, Saskatoon
Adam Kaminski, Chatham, Ont.
Fred Winters, Victoria
Alexandre Gaumont Casias, Ville-Marie, Que.
Gord Perrin, Creston, B.C.
Richard Wilcox, Calgary
Head coach: Glenn Hoag, Gatineau, Que.
Assistant coach: Vincent Pichette, Gatineau.