
Team Canada has improved to a record of two wins and one loss in the 2024 Men’s Volleyball Nations League in Antalya, Turkey. On Friday, Canada just needed 94 minutes to beat Bulgaria in straight sets 25-22, 30-28, 26-24. All three sets were a challenge, but the Canadians won the right points at the right time.
Three Canadians reached double digits in points. Outside hitters Eric Loeppky of Steinbach, Manitoba and Stephen Maar of Aurora, Ontario had 14 and 13 points respectively. Meanwhile, opposite Arthur Szwarc of Toronto, Ontario had 12 points. Loeppky led Canada with 13 attack points, while Szwarc had 10. Middle blocker Lucas Van Berkel of Edmonton, Alberta and Maar both led Canada with three block points.
Meanwhile, five Canadian players led the team with one ace. They were Loeppky, Maar, Szwarc, middle blocker Fynnian McCarthy of Lake Country, British Columbia, and setter Luke Herr of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Canada rebounded with their win over Bulgaria as they lost in four sets to Poland on Wednesday. Next up for Canada is Slovenia on Saturday.
One major surprise so far is the fact that the United States have lost their first two matches, and have not yet won a set. They were blanked 25-22, 25-15, 26-24by Poland on Wednesday, and then 25-22, 25-21, 25-21 by France on Friday.