Canada Qualifies for 2010 Worlds
Canada's big block against Mexico
The Canadian men and women’s national volleyball teams both took full advantage of their last chance to qualify for the World Championships in 2010. Both teams finished their qualification tournaments with 3-0 records earning each team one of the last two final berths from their NORCECA competitions to the 2010 World Championships.
Canada and Costa Rica advanced from a tough NORCECA Playoff Round in Tijuana last week at the 2010 World Championship Final NORCECA Women’s Qualification Tournament that also featured Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago. Canada finished the round-robin competition undefeated to top the group, while Costa Rica finished as runners-up with a 2-1 record.
The Canadian women defeated Mexico 3-2 in a close five set match 3-2, (25-13, 25-22, 22-25, 20-25, 15-8). In 2005, it was Mexico who defeated Canada to qualify for the 2006 World Championship, stealing the berth from the Canadians. This time the Canadians returned the favour in front of a full house of 2500 Mexican supporters in Tijuana, ending Mexico’s dream of returning to the World Championship.
Canada was led in scoring by Sherline Holness with 14 points from 7 kills, 5 blocks and 2 services aces, along with Tonya Mokelki and Tiffany Dodds who both contributed 13 points each.
Dallas Soonias, Steve Brinkman and Toon Van Lankvelt block
The Men’s National Team defeated Mexico in straight sets at the 2010 World Championship Final NORCECA Men’s Qualification Tournament that was being held August 28-30 in Guadelajara, Mexico. Set scores were 25-15, 25-18, 25-17. With Canada finishing 3-0 and Mexico 2-1 in the tournament, both teams claimed the last two available berths from this tournament to the 2010 World Championship.
Alexandre Gaumont Casias led Canada with 14 points, and Gavin Schmitt contributed 12.
“Since we knew we had qualified for the World Championship after Mexico’s victory last night, we told the players that this was the start of our preparation for worlds and that we had to focus on working on execution and running our game plan,” stated Head Coach Glenn Hoag. “The players did a good job with this focus. I would like to thank my staff, Larry Mckay, Georges Laplante, Mathieu SĂ©guin and Vincent Pichette for their work. With our ticket to Italy we can now start planning for next summer.”
A record 215 national teams will compete in the 2010 FIVB Men’s and Women’s World Championships. The 2010 men’s finals will be held in Italy from September 23 to October 10 and the women’s finals in Japan from October 29 to November 14, 2010. Of the 24 national teams in each of the finals, Italy as hosts and Brazil as holders have automatically advanced to the men’s finals, while Japan as hosts and Russia as holders have earned their spot in the women’s finals.
notes from VC andfivb.org
