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DETROIT, USA, May 23, 2015 – 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. |
