Canada splits World League leg in Halifax against Argentina

June 6, 2015

Feature photo: Argentina’s Nicolas Bruno spikes against Canada (FIVB)

The men’s national team took four of six points from Argentina over the weekend, winning on Friday but losing in five sets on Saturday in volleyball World League.

Canada won the first and third sets on Saturday in Halifax, however the Argentines roared back each time before winning the match 23-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 15-10 and salvaging two points from the weekend. The previous night Canada beat the world’s sixth ranked side in straight sets 25-22, 27-25, 25-19.

Rudy Verhoeff rises to spike against Argentina on June 5, 2015 in Halifax.

Under World League point distribution rules, Canada received three points for Friday’s win and a single for losing in five sets on Saturday. Argentina took two points from the win on Saturday. Maximum (three) points are awarded on three and four-set victories.

The countries play in Pool C, where Bulgaria enjoyed an ideal weekend in Cuba, taking the entire six points on offer from the Caribbean country on a pair of four-set wins. While Canada still leads the pool with 14 points, Bulgaria has closed in with eight, Argentina sits at six and Cuba has just two points from six matches.

Canada’s Gavin Schmitt up for a serve on June 5, 2015 in Halifax against Argentina (Photo: FIVB).

Canada now moves on to Summerside, Prince Edward Island for its last set of World League home matches against Bulgaria, after which Canada hits the road on two successive weekends to Cuba and Argentina.

Ideally, Canada would want to seal the group before Bulgaria hosts Argentina in the first week of July. Only two teams move on from Pool C to the final round. With Bulgaria hosting, it has an automatic berth in the final round and Canada must finish first, or second behind the Europeans in pool play for a chance to advance.

Pool C World Rankings: 6- Argentina, 9- Bulgaria, 11- Cuba, 14- Canada.