May 23, 2024: Canada’s men’s team showed up with a strong start, but couldn’t hold off the world-ranked number-one team of Poland at Volleyball Nations League 2024 in Antalya, Türkiye, today.

The final score was Canada 1, Poland 3 (25-18, 20-25, 23-25, 21-25).

Poland led in attack points 58-54, blocks 5-4, and aces 8-5. Canada earned more points from Poland’s errors 26-22.

"We came out guns blazing, and then we were playing a little too safe," Team Canada’s Stephen Maar told VBTV in a post-match interview. "We have everything we need to win and compete in these games, and at the end of the day we must take the opportunities that we have. … This team was able to make huge steps as a team last year (in qualifying for the Olympics), so we have the ability to learn what it is to play and win against these great teams."

Polish outside hitter Bartosz Bednorz was match top scorer with 19 points; Eric Loeppky was Canada’s top scorer today with 15 points.

Canada, ranked 12th, is already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics after the team’s second-place performance in the Olympic Qualifier pool last year.

Canada is now 1-1, and its next match is against Bulgaria on Friday.

Week two brings the men’s team back to Canada for the Ottawa leg of VNL, from June 4 to 9 at the Arena at TD Place; and the Canadian men will play friendlies with Italy at the Centre Sportif de Gatineau on May 31 and June 01.

VNL Week 1
Luke Herr – Winnipeg, MB
Brett Walsh – Calgary, AB
Ryley Barnes – Edmonton, AB
Nicholas Hoag – Sherbrooke, QC
Eric Loeppky – Steinbach, MB
Stephen Maar – Aurora, ON 
Pearson Eshenko – Banff, AB
Fynn McCarthy – Lake Country, BC
Danny Demyanenko – Toronto, ON
Lucas Van Berkel – Edmonton, AB
Xander Ketrzynski – Toronto, ON
Arthur Szwarc – Toronto, ON
Landon Currie – Coldstream, BC
Justin Lui – Pickering, ON
Reserve: Jordan Schnitzer – Surrey, BC
 
Staff:
Head coach: Tuomas Sammelvuo
Assistant coach: Joao Paolo Bravo
Assistant coach: Michael Hawkins
Strength and conditioning: Michael Cook
Performance analyst: Damian Musiak
Athletic therapist: Schad Richea
Chiropractor: Abe Avender
Team manager: Cassandra Nicol
Director, high performance: Julien Boucher 

For VNL Ottawa media inquiries, including accreditation, please contact Jackie Skender.

Volleyball Canada Media Contact:
Jackie Skender
jskender@volleyball.ca
Mobile: 613-794-7676