Team Canada has won its first game on Sunday at the 2022 Volleyball Men’s Nations League in Ottawa, Ontario. After losses this past week to Germany, France and Italy, the Canadian squad won a tough five-set match against Bulgaria to improve to a record of one win and three losses.
Team Canada won by a score of 25-18, 25-18, 24-26, 21-25, 15-11. It was a solid start for the Canadians, only to see Bulgaria march back to take sets three and four. The Canadians then finished strong, taking the deciding set by four points.
Stephen Maar of Aurora, Ontario led the Canadian team with 25 points, 22 of the points came from an attack. Four other Canadians reached double digits in points. Ryan Sclater of New Westminster, British Columbia had 17 points, Nicholas Hoag of Sherbrooke, Quebec had 14 points, Jackson Howe of Calgary, Alberta had 13 points, and Lucas Van Berkel of Edmonton, Alberta had 11 points. Howe led Canada with five blocks, and Sclater led Canada with four aces.
Canada’s next game is against Australia on June 21 from Sofia, Bulgaria. The Canadian women meanwhile have a record of two wins and two losses after wins over the Dominican Republic and South Korea a week ago in Louisiana. The win over South Korea was extremely impressive as Canada won in straight sets, 25-21, 25-13, 25-16. Kiera Van Ryk of New Westminster, British Columbia led Canada with 14 points.
