Volleyball Canada – Jiangmen, China, June 23, 2018 – Canada bounced back from a loss to Serbia yesterday to a convincing win against host China FIVB Volleyball Nations League action on Saturday.
 
Stephen Maar (16 points) and Arthur Szwarc’s 11 points helped Canada to the 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-22) win today, ending a three-match losing streak.
 
Maar said Canada’s success today came in its ability to change tactics against China: “We had to make some changes in attacking… different players played, so we had to open up different opportunities. Then we just did our best, and it was a great environment to play in.”
 
Now out of contention to advance to the finals, Canada (7-7) is playing with a lot of pride in this final weekend of VNL pool play.

• Current rankings (top six advance to finals): http://www.volleyball.world/en/men/resultsandranking/round1

China was looking to continue a successful home stand after beating Japan on Friday, but an error-prone performance marred the effort today, and the team now has a 3-11 overall record.
 
Canada has won its past six matches over China at the major international level.
 
Canada finishes its VNL campaign against Japan on Sunday, while China plays finals-bound Serbia. 
  

• Full match report, stats and photos here: http://www.volleyball.world/

Roster 

1 – TJ Sanders, London, ON (setter)
4 – Nicholas Hoag, Sherbrooke, QC (outside hitter)
5 – Lucas Van Berkel, Edmonton, AB (middle blocker)
6 – Justin Duff, Winnipeg, MB (middle blocker)
7 – Stephen Maar, Aurora, ON (outside hitter)
8 – Jay Blankenau, Sherwood Park, AB (setter)
9 – Jason DeRocco, Winnipeg, MB (outside hitter)
12 – Gavin Schmitt, Saskatoon, SK (opposite)
13 – Ryley Barnes, Edmonton, AB (outside hitter)
15 – Bryan Duquette, St. Thomas, ON (libero)
17 – Graham Vigrass, Calgary, AB (middle blocker)
18 – Bradley Gunter, Comox, BC (opposite)
19 – Blair Bann, Edmonton, AB (libero)
20 – Arthur Szwarc, Toronto, ON (middle blocker)

——–

About Volleyball Nations League
In both the men’s and women’s leagues, the 16 teams in each gender will compete first in round robin format. With a total of 260 matches played in the tournament, each team will play a minimum of 15 matches and each core nation will host at least one pool. There will be one combined standings table across all pools for each gender. In the men’s and women’s competition, the top five teams of the standings will join the hosts for the finals.  #VNL
 
Volleyball Canada
Jackie Skender
Director, Communications
613.794.7676
jskender@volleyball.ca