Team Canada came through with a win on Sunday in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League at the NOW Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The Canadian Men’s National Volleyball Team defeated China by a score of 25-23, 25-20, 25-23, in a straight set match that took one hour and 23 minutes to complete. With the win, Canada improved to a record of three wins and five losses.
The Canadian team was led by opposite Xander Wassenaar Ketrzynski of Toronto, Ontario. Ketrzynski had a team-high 21 points. He also led Canada with three block points, and four aces, and was the co-leader for Canada with 14 attack points. The other Canadian with 14 attack points was opposite hitter Isaac Heslinga of Orangeville, Ontario. Heslinga finished with 17 points, as he had two aces and one blocked shot. The only other Canadian players in double digits in points was opposite hitter Skylar Varga of Muenster, Saskatchewan, who had 11 points (10 attack points and one block point).
Overall, it was a bit of a disappointing weekend for Canada as they lost in straight sets to Brazil and the United States before winning the first two sets against Poland, only to lose in five sets. The win against China means Canada is in 14th place in the preliminary round. The win over China will give Canada confidence as they prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.