Volleyball Canada – Matosinhos, Portugal, July 9, 2016 : Canada overcame Turkey 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-23) in the Group 2 FIVB World League final four semi-final at Centro de Desportos e Congressos in Matosinhos on Saturday afternoon.
 
Gord Perrin contributed 20 points for Canada while Baturalp Burak Gungor scored 19 times for Turkey. Canada made the difference with 11-5 block winners and fewer mistakes (14-20). 
 
It was back and forth in the early stages of the match with Canada entering the first technical timeout at 8-7. Canadian outside hitter Perrin (7 points in the first set) moved the scoreboard forward for the North Americans to force Turkey coach Emanuelle Zanini calling his players off court at 17-19. Turkey bounced back, but could not close it out. An ace by Perrin brought Canada back, and then a Fred Winters’ block closed the set.
 
Canada kept the momentum in the second and stretched the lead to five points at 14-9. The Europeans did their best to resist but could not stop the strong Canadian offense. Zanini called another timeout at 13-19 but it was already too late for a comeback. A Turkish service mistake offered the Canadians a well-deserved 25-17 second set win. 
 
The story of the match did not change much in the third. Canada kept the upper hand even after Turkey attempted a comeback late in the set. Perrin ended the clash with a block winner at 25-23 to give Canada a place in Sunday’s final match. 
 
Canada’s coach Glenn Hoag said after the match: “I am very proud of my players. We didn’t play with a regular opposite, and Rudy (Verhoeff) and the team have done a great job at winning matches adjusting to this new reality.

We are looking forward to playing Portugal – we know them well and it will be exciting playing the home team.”

Portugal beat the Netherlands 3-1 in the other semi-final today. The final will be Sunday at 1 pm Eastern on www.cbc.ca

Volleyball Canada media contact:
Jackie Skender
E-mail: jskender@volleyball.ca
Phone: 613.794.7676