Canadian women’s volleyball team earns ‘big win’ in Olympic pursuit

Canada came back from two sets down to post a 3-2 win over Japan in Volleyball Nations League women’s action Thursday in Fukuoka, Japan.

Canada’s next match is a crucial meeting with the Netherlands on Friday. Live streaming coverage begins at 2:30 a.m. ET at CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.

The Dutch are ninth in the world rankings and currently hold the final qualifying spot for the Paris Olympics, but No. 10 Canada is just 2.09 ranking points below them.

“That was a big win for us,” Canada head coach Shannon Winzer said after Thursday’s game. “We knew we had to be patient on attack and then work hard on defence around our block and while we kept falling just short in two very close first and second sets, we found our rhythm and our confidence in the third and kept going from there. Big team effort tonight.”

Seven women’s teams have already qualified. The remaining spots will go to the top five unqualified teams in the FIVB rankings at the end of the VNL preliminary phase.

WATCH | Full match coverage — Canada vs. Japan:

Watch Canada face Japan at the FIVB 2024 Women’s Volleyball Nations League tournament in Fukuoka, Japan.

Thursday was a back-and-forth competition, with Canada edging Japan in attack points (68-67), service aces were even at six while the Canadians made more errors (26-24). However, Canada’s block was effective with 13 points compared with six for Japan.

Calgary’s Alexa Gray led her team Thursday with 30 points as Canada won with set scores of 23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21 and 16-14.

Kiera Van Ryk of Surrey, B.C., added 27 points, while Sarina Koga led Japan with 20 points.

Canada finishes VNL competition Saturday against 20th-ranked France, while the Dutch close against No. 34 South Korea. The final spots at the Paris Games will be decided at the end of the competition.

Canadian roster

• Brie O’Reilly — Langley, B.C.
• Courtney Baker — Bridgewater, N.S.
• Emily Maglio — Coquitlam, B.C.
• Jazmine White — Oshawa, Ont.
• Alicia Ogoms — Winnipeg
• Layne Van Buskirk — Windsor, Ont.
• Alexa Gray (C) — Calgary
• Hilary Johnson — Calgary
• Andrea Mitrovic — Mississauga, Ont.
• Vicky Savard — Jonquière, Que.
• Kiera Van Ryk — Surrey, B.C.
• Shainah Joseph — Ottawa
• Julia Murmann — Toronto
• Kacey Jost — St. Albert, Alta.

WATCH | Will Canada’s women’s volleyball return to Olympics for the 1st time since 1996?:

The 2024 Volleyball Nations League campaign will determine whether or not Canada returns to the Olympics for the first time since Atlanta 1996.