Volleyball Canada – Varna, Bulgaria, June 16, 2018 – After Canada’s stunning victory yesterday over Brazil, Bulgaria was able dampen Canada’s enthusiastic start to Saturday’s Volleyball Nations League match, and win 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 29-27) in front of a delighted home crowd.
 
The upset result ended Bulgaria’s (4-7) three-match losing streak. It was a full team effort, but especially from Boyan Yordanov with 21 points as well as captain Viktor Yosifov (4 blocks) and Valentin Bratoev (12 points). 
 
It was a costly defeat for Canada in the quest to make the VNL finals, as the team is 6-5 overall, sitting just outside of the top six.
 
Graham Vigrass (16 points) was a standout for Canada today, despite the lacklustre team performance. Stephen Maar and Gavin Schmitt contributed seven points each.
 
Bulgaria plays Brazil – winless so far in Varna – on Sunday.
 
Canada will have to re-group very quickly, as the team faces France, who has won nine out of its 11 VNL matches so far to sit atop the tournament rankings board.

• Match stats and photos can be found here: http://www.volleyball.world/en/men/schedule/9014-bulgaria-canada/post

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