Team Canada for Volleyball Success

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Canadian women knew exactly what they needed on the Calgary court and opened the third week of the 2022 Volleyball Nations League season …

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Success on the scoreboard.

It took place in the form of at least one win from the schedule of four games at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex of the Two Tina tribe.

And maybe two.

“We’re fighting to stay at VNL next year,” said Alexa Gray, one of Team Canada’s leaders, Calgary himself. “So it’s a pretty big week for us.

“There are some Challenger teams that have to win while they have to win some games. Hopefully they will win more than one.”

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Depending on the scoreboard of the 16 teams’ international event, some may do it.

Canada (3-5) held a six-day gala in the district court against Turkey (5-3) on Tuesday night, aiming to rise from 11th place in Calgary.

“We need to be pretty consistent,” said 27-year-old Gray, who graduated from Calgary’s Centennial High School, the University of Calgary’s Dinos Volleyball Club, and NCAA’s BYU Cougars, who is currently playing professionally in Italy. rice field.

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“I think we have to have very high energies,” Gray continued. “We have to serve tough and get through well. Hopefully we can shock some of these teams and take them out of their comfort zone a bit.”

Given the lineup of countries facing Gray & Company, it’s not easy.

After Turkey leans, Canadians will play against Serbia (5-3), Germany (2-6) and the Netherlands (1-7) on Friday (8 pm), Saturday (8 pm) and Sunday (5 pm). to hold.

Belgium, Japan, and the American national team of Olympic champions conclude the countries represented by Calgary. It is one of the two host cities that make up the third week of VNL. The eight teams here will each play four games in seven Chiefs Sportsplexes.

The Volleyball Nations League, with the participation of world-class female volleyball stars, is Canada’s second season.

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“We are ranked low in the tournament, but there are so many possibilities and high ceilings,” said Hillary Howe, another Calgarian on the Team Canada roster, outside hitter. I did. “Now let’s approach every game so that we can win and compete.

“We’re going to face good competition,” said Howe, a 24-year-old graduate of Calgary’s EP Scarlet Lancers and U Sports’ Trinity Western Spartans, before turning professional in France last year. “But we believe we can definitely steal some wins this weekend.”

Gray agrees.

“No team is as strong as in other countries, so we need to be together as a team,” Gray added. “But overall, we can beat many teams. At our home court advantage, hopefully we can use it a bit to win some games.

“By stitching together some really well-played games, we can achieve what we were trying to do.”

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

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