THE GREAT NEWS is that Canada has finally won against USA in a longggggggggggggggggggggg time.
THE GOOD NEWS is that both teams have qualified for the 2015 FIVB World Cup in Japan with the top 2 teams winning a spot in the 2016 Olympics.
Let’s hope USA and/or Canada will finish in the Top 2 at the World Cup or else they will both meet again at the NORCECA Olympic qualifier with only 1 Olympic spot available.
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Canada won a tough border battle over the United States 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 21-25, 25-21, 17-15) in the final match of the NORCECA Men’s Champions Cup on Saturday at Joe Louis Arena.
Canada won the round-robin tournament at 3-0 while the United States finished second at 2-1. Both teams qualified for the 2015 FIVB World Cup in Japan, which is the first chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games. Cuba placed third with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-15) win over Mexico in Saturday’s first match.
Canada’s libero Daniel Lewis was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He was credited with 15 digs and 21 excellent receptions in the final match.
After fighting back to win the fourth set, Canada held a 12-10 lead in the fifth. The U.S. fought back with a kill from Murphy Troy and an Anderson ace to tie it and the teams battled back and forth. Canada reached match point at 14-13, but its next serve went into the net. The U.S. reached match point at 15-14, but also served into the net. At 15-15, Canada scored on a kill by Frederic Winters and an ace by Graham Vigrass to win the match.
“Our block defense did a pretty good job tonight,” Canada Head Coach Glenn Hoag said. “Our young setter TJ (Tyler Sanders) did a pretty good job of changing it up as we know the USA has a really strong block. We also handled their serves as that was the hardest thing with them being such a great serving team.”
Canada led in kills (64-63) while the U.S. led in blocks (8-3) and aces (12-9). Canada scored 31 points on U.S. errors while it gave up 25.
“We had lots of good opportunities; we just have to get better in a lot in a lot of different ways,” U.S. Head Coach John Speraw said. “We do some pretty impressive things. We are a physical team. We can make some great block moves. We can bang it a bit. We don’t always maintain the level we need to take care of the little things. There are some aspect of the personnel on the floor that we need to work on.”
Canada’s opposite Steven Marshall, playing for usual starter Gavin Schmitt, led his team with 21 points on 18 kills, one block and two aces. Outside hitter Toontje Van Lankvelt added 15 points on 14 kills and one ace.
U.S. outside hitter Matt Anderson led all scorers with 24 points on 18 attacks, three blocks and three aces. Opposite Murphy Troy added 18 points on 18 kills.
Full Match Video
MVP: Dan Lewis (Libero)
Tournament Results
Tournament Results
May 21, 2015
Canada d Cuba 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-17)
United States d Mexico 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-17)
May 22, 2015
Canada d Mexico 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-13)
United States d Cuba 3-1 (20-25, 25-17, 25-10, 25-14)
May 23, 2015
Cuba d Mexico 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-15)
Canada d United States 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 21-25, 25-21, 17-15)
Top Scorer by Day
24- Rolando Cepeda of Cuba v Canada (May 21)
17- Matt Anderson of United States v Cuba (May 22)
24- Matt Anderson of United States v Canada (May 23)
Top Scoring Performances
24- Rolando Cepeda of Cuba v Canada (May 21)
24- Matt Anderson of United States v Canada (May 23)
21- Steven Marhall of Canada v United States (May 23)
18- Murphy Troy of United States v Canada (May 23)
17- Matt Anderson of United States v Cuba (May 22)
17- Fred Winters of Canada v United States (May 23)
Top Blocking Performances
4- Justin Duff of Canada v Cuba (May 21)
4- Micah Christenson of United States v Mexico (May 21)
4- Micah Christenson of United States v Cuba (May 22)
4- Livan Osoria of Cuba v Mexico (May 23)
4- David Lee of United States v Canada (May 23)
Top Serving Peformances
7- Maxwell Holt of United States v Mexico (May 21)
4- Tyler Sanders of Canada v Cuba (May 21)
4- Murphy Troy of United States v Mexico (May 21)
Top Team Blocking Performances
12- Canada v Cuba (May 21)
11- United States v Cuba (May 22)
10- Cuba v Mexico (May 23)
Top Team Serving Peformances
15- United States v Mexico (May 21)
12- United States v Canada (May 23)
10- Canada v Cuba (May 21)
10- United States v Cuba (May 22)
Highest Scoring Sets
25-22 Canada v Cuba (1st Set) (May 21)
25-22 Cuba v Mexico (2nd Set) (May 23)
25-22 Canada v United States (1st Set) (May 23)
(source: FIVB)
Highlights
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Highlights from Canada's 3-2 win over the U.S. in the NORCECA Cup finals.
Posted by Volleyball Source Magazine on Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Check out this rally from Saturday nights match! The U.S. won this one, but Canada was victorious in the end!
Posted by Volleyball Source Magazine on Tuesday, May 26, 2015