Canada Advances with Win Over Suriname at NORCECA U17

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, November 6, 2025. – Canada swept Suriname 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-19) to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2025 NORCECA Girls’ U17 Continental Championship, being held at the Gimnasio Nacional in San José, Costa Rica.

With the victory, Canada finished Pool A with a 2-1 record and secured a spot in the next round, while Suriname (0-3) will compete in the classification round for positions 5 to 8.

Canada held the advantage in all scoring categories, leading 39-20 in attacks, 5-4 in blocks, and 16-4 in service points, while committing 14 errors to Suriname’s 15.

Outside hitter Winji Magdi led Canada with 13 points (6 attacks, match-high 7 aces), followed by middle blocker Elise Evanson with 11 points (6 attacks, 4 blocks, 1 ace). For Suriname, outside hitter Zoe Roethof topped all scorers with 14 points (11 attacks, 3 aces), joined by team captain Cherelle Meulenhof, who contributed 10 points (8 attacks, 2 blocks).

The first set was even until 6-6, when Canada pulled ahead behind strong offense from Shayla Byrnell and effective serves from Winji Magdi for an 11-6 lead. Canada maintained its rhythm and comfortably closed the set despite solid effort from Roethof on the Surinamese side.

In the second set, Canada jumped to a 10-2 lead with Elise Evanson scoring key points at the net and Charlsey Goetz adding on offense. Canada’s serving pressure kept Suriname under control, though Roethof continued to be her team’s main scorer. Canada extended its dominance to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set was tighter, with Suriname staying close at 10-12 and later tying at 15 and 16 points after a kill from Roethof. Cherelle Meulenhof also contributed with strong attacks, but Byrnell led Canada back ahead, supported by Suriname’s errors. Charlie Visser energized her team with three consecutive service points, and Elaina Grover sealed the match with a final kill.

Charlie Visser, Canada’s setter, said about her serving performance: “I was just trying to help my team and push us through the end of the game. We lost focus in the third set, but we pushed towards the end. Canada needs to find each other as a team and represent our country really well.”

Claudius Straal, Head Coach of Suriname, said: “We had a good performance in the last set. The team has to keep believing in themselves to execute just like in that set and not give up.”