Canada to wrap up VNL this weekend

June 14, 2024.- Canada will conclude 2024 Volleyball Nations League this weekend with a respectable record and many highlights, but likely falling short of its goal of an Olympic berth.

Earlier today, Netherlands shut out Canada in one of the week’s most anticipated women’s Volleyball Nations League matches in Fukuoka, Japan, just two days before the race for the last Olympic tickets to the women’s volleyball tournament at Paris 2024 officially closes on Sunday.

The Netherlands won 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-23) in the head-to-head encounter with Canada and that result moved Netherlands up in the ranking points for an Olympic spot, just over 22 points ahead of Canada. 

Aside from today’s loss, overall Canada had surpassed expectations, beating many top teams in the last couple of years.

"If you told me three years ago that we’d be in this situation, fighting to go to the Olympics, I wouldn’t have believed you," Canada's captain Alexa Gray said in the post-match interview on VBTV. "This group has grown so much and we’ve been through a lot together, climbing in the rankings the past few years, and seeing everyone grow as a team and playing better and better volleyball each year. I’m so proud of this group. I’m honoured to represent Canada and play with these girls."

In its final match of VNL preliminary phase, Canada faces France on Saturday in Japan, which is 11 pm Eastern time on Friday in Canada. France is automatically in the Olympics as host country. Canada currently has six wins and five losses in VNL 2024.