Canada One Win Away from Olympic

Return After Sweeping Puerto Rico

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, August 28, 2026 – Canada moved one victory away from returning to the Olympic Games for the first time since Atlanta 1996 after defeating Puerto Rico in straight sets 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-10) in the first semifinal of the NORCECA Women’s Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament at the “Prof. Ricardo Gioriver Arias” Volleyball Palace.

Canada, fresh off winning its first gold medal at the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship, will face the winner of the second semifinal between Cuba and Dominican Republic in Saturday’s Olympic berth match. Puerto Rico will face the loser in the third-place match.

The Canadian women last competed at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996 and are now one victory away from ending a 32-year absence from the Olympic stage at Los Angeles 2028.

Canada held the advantage in attacks (42-32), blocks (12-2), and aces (4-2). The Canadians committed 12 errors compared to Puerto Rico’s 17.

Opposite Kiera Van Ryk led Canada with 20 points on 13 kills, three blocks, and four aces. Alexa Gray and Emily Maglio followed with nine points apiece, each contributing eight kills and one block.

For Puerto Rico, Decelise Champion scored 12 points, all on kills, followed by Paola Santiago with nine.

Canada controlled the opening set 25-16, holding advantages in attacks (15-9) and blocks (2-1), while both teams recorded one ace. The Canadians committed five errors compared to Puerto Rico’s seven.

Puerto Rico responded strongly in the second set and built an 18-12 advantage, putting Canada under pressure. The momentum shifted when the Canadians began to apply pressure from the service line. Van Ryk delivered three consecutive aces to cut the deficit to 18-16, fueling Canada’s comeback.

From 12-18 down, Canada outscored Puerto Rico 13-4 the rest of the way to take the set 25-22 and move within one set of the Olympic berth match.

Canada carried that momentum into the third set and took complete control. The Canadians held an 11-7 advantage in attacks and dominated at the net with seven blocks to Puerto Rico’s none, while committing only three errors compared to Puerto Rico’s seven, closing the match with a commanding 25-10 set.

Giovanni Guidetti, head coach of Canada: “I liked the way my team played the match. Puerto Rico put pressure on us in the second set, but we were able to stay strong and close out that set with a positive result. In the third set, we regained our rhythm and controlled it very well. I’m satisfied with our performance today and am already looking forward to a great match tomorrow.”

Juan Carlos Núñez, head coach of Puerto Rico: “You don’t get to play against a team like that every day. To play against them, you have to maintain consistency. When we were able to put pressure on them with our serves, especially in the first two sets, their strength and experience showed, and we couldn’t counter it, which ultimately led to the loss.”