Canadian volleyball finds weekend success on court and beach
Feature photo via FIVB.org
Volleyball Canada enjoyed success on the court and at the beach this weekend.
On the court
Gavin Schmitt during World League play against Cuba on May 16, 2015 (photo: FIVB.org).
The men’s team is off to a perfect start in the 2015 FIVB World League with two 3-0 wins over Cuba this weekend in Calgary. The Canadians won maximum points beating their Caribbean rival 25-20, 25-19, 26-24 in Pool C action on Saturday, then repeated the feat on Sunday winning 26-24, 25-19, 25-21. Gavin Schmitt led the team in scoring both days.
Canada now has a solid six-point lead in the pool from the opening round of play. There are three points up for grabs every match. Winning in three or four sets nets the winning team three points, winning in five gives the losing side a single point of the share.
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The other two teams in the pool, Bulgaria and Argentina, were not in action over the weekend. Canada must either win the pool or finish second to Bulgaria to advance to the next level. Bulgaria – as host of the final round – gets automatic entry. These countries are all in Group 2 of the World League competition, vying for a chance to win the final round and get promoted to Group 1.
On the beach
Women’s beach volleyball duo of Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas won their second medal of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour on Sunday.
Jamie Broder, Kristina Valjas (right, in yellow) on the podium at Lucerne, Switzerland on May 17, 2015.
In late April, Broder and Valjas became the first Canadian women’s beach team to win a FIVB World Tour medal in Fuzhou, China. The latest podium trip comes in Lucerne, Switzerland at the expense of Stefanie Schwaiger and Barbara Hansel 21-18, 21-15 in the bronze medal game.
RELATED: Broder and Valjas make history
In a Volleyball Canada press release, Broder said “teamwork” and “belief” has carried the beach duo and they are “looking forward to a successful season ahead.”
Germany’s Karla Borger and Britta Buthe won gold, they beat Netherlands’ Madelein Meppelink and Marleen Van Iersel in the final.
