Team Canada has clinched a spot in the second round of the 2018 World Men’s Volleyball Championship in Ruse, Bulgaria. On Saturday, Canada beat China in four sets, 25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23, to improve to a record of three wins and zero losses.
Canada’s top offensive player was John Gordon Perrin of Creston, British Columbia. Perrin had a team high 26 points, and also led Canada with 22 spikes and three aces. Three other Canadians reached double digits in scoring. They were Sharone Vernon-Evans of Scarborough, Ontario with 14 points, while Nicholas Hoag of Gatineau, Quebec and Graham Vigrass of Calgary, Alberta had 11 points each. Meanwhile, Vernon-Evans also led Canada with three blocks.
The competition for Canada the rest of the tournament will be much tougher. They have Brazil on Monday and France on Tuesday to close out Pool B.
Canada remains one of six teams left in the 24 team tournament that are undefeated. Italy leads Pool A with a record of four wins and zero losses, while the United States leads Pool C with a record of four wins and zero losses. Teams at three wins and zero losses are Slovenia, Poland and Iran. The top four teams from all four pools advance to the second round.
