Canada stays alive in Women’s Volleyball Nations League action

Kiera Van Ryk (Lega Pallavollo, Wikimedia Commons)

Canada kept their extremely faint chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League in Bangkok, Thailand and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris alive. In Fukuoka, Japan on Friday night in Canada (Saturday in Japan), Canada defeated France in straight sets 25-14, 25-18, 31-29.

Three Canadians reached double digits in scoring. Outside hitter Kierra Van Ryk of New Westminster, British Columbia led Canada in scoring with 26 points (24 attack points, one block point and one ace). Middle block Emily Maglio of Cranbrook, British Columbia had 14 points (10 attack points and four block points) and middle block Jazmine White of Oshawa, Ontario (five attack points, four block points and one ace). Van Ryk led Canada with 24 attack points. Maglio and White led Canada with four block points. Meanwhile, captain and outside hitter Alexa Gray of Lethbridge, Alberta, Van Ryk and White each led Canada with one ace.

In the Women’s Volleyball Nations League standings, Canada improved to a record of seven wins and five losses for 20 points. They advance to the quarterfinals in Bangkok with a Japan win over the United States and a South Korea win over the Netherlands on Sunday. Canada’s chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games is also still in existence if South Korea beats the Netherlands three sets to none.

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