Canada Completes Pool Play Undefeated

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, September 28, 2017 – Canada finished pool play undefeated after its 25-21, 25-12, 25-10 victory over a spirited Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday at the NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Trinidad & Tobago finished pool play 1-1.

After Trinidad & Tobago played a tough first set, Canada’s serving wore down the Caribbean team. Canada led in aces (10-2) as well as spike (39-23) and blocks (7-3). Trinidad & Tobago scored 15 points on Canada’s errors while committing 19.

Outside hitter Nick Hoag led Canada with 16 points on a match-high 11 spikes, a match-high four aces and one block. Opposite Sharone Vernon-Evans added 15 points, including a match-high four blocks.

Opposite Ryan Stewart led Trinidad & Tobago with nine points on seven spikes, one block and one ace.

Canada Head Coach Stephane Antiga: “(Today was) more difficult than yesterday. The first set was very difficult. We could see that they were a good team. Than the second set was much better, we were more active, more aggressive, so I was very satisfied with the two last sets. We don't know if we'll play tomorrow, but ... we will play to improve ... and we will wait to see who we play for the quarterfinals. We have to ... we must win.”

Canada Team Captain Gordon Perrin: "They are very athletic players and the made some good plays in the first set. They actually played really good defense and received well too, so they tested us in the first set. We made a lot of unforced errors in the first set and they played well, so we have to give it to them. They can play at a steady level; it's harder for them to play at such a high level for the whole match that we can play at, so it leveled out in the end.”

Trinidad & Tobago Head Coach Sean Morrison: “We had a very strong first set. I was proud of the guys. We wanted to go hard in the second set and I think we tried too hard. We made simple errors. The guys

Trinidad & Tobago Captain Ryan Stewart: “We were happy with the first set. After that, I think we had trouble with their serve.”