Sept. 01, 2021: Canada swept Japan 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-20) today at the Paralympic Games women’s sitting volleyball tournament in the final match of pool play.
“Getting to the semifinals of the Paralympics started as a dream back in Rio 2016 after our seventh-place finish. And after five years of hard work and dedication from every member of this team, we made it,” said Danielle Ellis (White Rock, BC), the team’s captain who contributed 14 points today. “I believe in each woman here and I know how much they have put into competing at the Paralympics and I am so proud to sit next to them on the court. We’re here and we’re ready to push to be the best version of ourselves: One game at a time!”
Heidi Peters (Neerlandia, AB) again led scoring with 20 points, including nine from her powerful serves.
Canada plays China on Sept. 03 (20:30 local, 7:30am ET) in the second semi-final of that day. Said Head Coach Nicole Ban: “We got the job done and met our first goal of the event, qualifying for the semifinals. Now it’s time to make the most of a recovery day tomorrow to prepare for our match against China.”
Canada won two of its three pool matches. The U.S. and Brazil also advanced to the semifinals.
- CBC sports broadcast schedule can be found here: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/paralympics
- Official schedule and live score: https://bit.ly/3gxB5Sn
- Full roster: https://bit.ly/3joPhiJ
Media contact: Jackie Skender Photo: World ParaVolley
Update: NORCECA bronze at Women’s Continental Championship
August 31, 2021: Canada beat the United States in five sets 3-2 (25-17, 17-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-8) to win the bronze medal at the Women’s NORCECA Continental Championship in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Tuesday evening.
Canada’s Kiera Van Ryk (Surrey, BC) led with 17 kills, four serves and added three blocks for 24 points – eight of those points were in the tie-break set alone. Middle blocker Jennifer Cross contributed 15 points on 10 kills, leading blocks with four and one ace, and outside hitter Hilary Howe added 14 points.
This is Canada’s second bronze in a row; they now have two silvers and 10 bronze medals in the tournament’s history.
Canada led in kills 50-49, and in blocks 16-11. The U.S. top scorer was opposite player Veronica Perry with 21 points.
Shannon Winzer, head coach, said: “Kiera made an unbelievable difference, she showed up today and I think we got to see the Kiera Van Ryk that we were used to seeing in the VNL (Volleyball Nations League), her coming back in the fifth and serving like that, won us the game. Everyday we’ve asked our players to have that warrior mindset – we were still up and down but we were just warriors today.”
Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico won gold and silver respectively, and earned the two berths to the FIVB World Championship.
- Event web site: www.norceca.net
Media contact: Jackie Skender Photo: NORCECA