Volleyball Canada – Matosinhos, Portugal, July 10, 2016 – Canada won the final of 2016 FIVB World League Group 2 by sweeping hosts Portugal in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-15) in Sunday at Centro de Desportos e Congressos in Matosinhos. It was the team’s 10th win in the last 11 matches in World League, and Canada is now promoted to the 2017 FIVB World League Group 1.  
 
In today’s match, Canadian outside hitters Gordon Perrin (19 points) and Nicholas Hoag (14) contributed 33 kills for the North Americans while Portugal’s captain Alexandre Ferreira scored 11 points. 
 
“I am very proud of the group as they worked as a team and played disciplined volleyball. We are very happy with the win. This concludes an important part of our summer,” said Canada’s coach Glenn Hoag.  “I like the way the team played given that we were training quite hard both physically and technically to get ready for Rio.”

Canada qualified for the Olympics after a 24 year drought only last month at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan.  The only Canadian defeat in World League this season was against Finland on July 03 in five sets.
 
In Sunday’s Group 2 final, Canada jumped out for an 8-5 lead in the early stages of the opening set. As in Canada’s straight-set semi-final triumph over Turkey on Saturday, outside hitter Perrin set the tone on the court. Nicholas Hoag added five inspiring winners to guide the Canadians to an undisputed 25-19 set win. 
 
Hosts Portugal found their rhythm in the beginning of the second set. They led 5-1 and kept the pace until the second technical timeout (16-13). Canada regained momentum at 17-17 as Perrin contributed two consecutive winners for his squad. It was the key moment of the second set with Canada never looking back ending it a 25-22. 
 
Portugal – perhaps tired from their spectacular semi-final clash with the Netherlands on Saturday – couldn’t hold back the Canadians in the third set. Canada led 20-13, powering to victory. A Portuguese error offered the North Americans the third set 25-15 and the match 3-0. 

For more on FIVB World League see www.fivb.com

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