Canada’s women’s team wrapped up the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Russia with a win over Mexico today 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-17).
After a slow start, Canada dominated Mexico in most aspects of the game, and Alexa Gray was again Canada’s top scorer with 21 points.
With a 1-2 (today’s win and loss to Russia and Korea), Canada does not qualify for the 2020 Games from this tournament, but will have another chance in the NORCECA continental tournament early next year. Russia ended up winning the tournament with a five-set win over Korea today, and the receives berth to Tokyo.
“I think it would have been interesting to see what we could have done with a different result in the first game, but unfortunately we couldn’t push Korea to a fifth set. Of course it wasn’t the result we wanted,” admitted team captain Kyla Richey. “This team has taken strides forward over the years and especially this summer, and with the qualification of VNL (achieved in July), we are looking to compete at the Olympics next summer as well. We have another chance to qualify in January out of our zone, and still have a few tournaments left. Our sights are still set on qualifying.”
Another Canadian squad will begin competing at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, this week.
Roster:
#1 Jessie Niles, Turner Valley, AB
#3 Kiera Van Ryk, Surrey, BC
#4 Kyla Richey (C), Roberts Creek, B.C.
#5 Danielle Smith, Beaverlodge, AB
#9 Alexa Gray, Calgary, AB
#11 Andrea Mitrovic, Mississauga, ON
#12 Jennifer Cross, Scarborough, ON
#13 Brie O’Reilly (King), Langley, BC
#15 Sarah Chase, Campbell River, BC
#16 Shainah Joseph, Ottawa, ON
#17 Kristen Moncks, Standard, AB
#19 Marie-Alex Bélanger, Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, QC
#20 Alicia Perrin, Creston, BC
#23 Emily Maglio, Coquitlam, BC
Staff
Head Coach: Tom Black
Assistant Coach: Ben Josephson
Assistant Coach: Jeff Baxter
Athletic Trainer: Fraser Perry
Team Leader: Kerry MacDonald
