Aug. 27: Canada lost to undefeated Türkiye today at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The pool E winners beat Canada 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-13), leading by 49-35 in attack points and 10-5 in blocks. Canada had a slight edge on ace serves (3-2) and errors were even at 16. Opposite Melissa Vargas led the way for the winning side with 16 points.

Middle blocker Nyadholi Thokbuom led scoring with 12 points (8 kills, 2 blocks & 2 aces) for Canada. The Canadian team was playing without opposite Anna Smrek, who is under observation after a hit to the head during the previous match with Spain.

“I think today we played two very good sets and a very bad third," said Giovanni Guidetti, Canada’s head coach and a former Türkiye head coach. Canada did hold the lead for much of the second set, missing out on two set points to the more experienced Turkish squad.

"Türkiye is a very strong opponent, and we have to accept the result. Now one day of rest and then we focus on USA, another very strong opponent. What I’m asking of the team before the match against the United States is to play like Canada - that means we will never give up!”

Canada finished second in the pool with a 2-1 record and both Canada and Turkiye move to the round of 16. Canada meets its North American neighbours and Pool D winners USA on September 1 in Bangkok, while Türkiye plays Slovenia.

All Canadian matches are shown on CBC Sports, and the full tournament is available on VBTV (also free to members of Volleyball Canada).

Pool E Schedule
August 23 – Canada vs. Bulgaria – 16:00 local time (ICT) 3-1
August 23 – Türkiye vs. Spain – 19:30 local time 3-0
August 25 – Canada vs. Spain – 16:00 local time 3-2
August 25 – Türkiye vs. Bulgaria – 19:30 local time 3-0
August 27 – Türkiye vs. Canada – 16:00 local time 3-0
August 27 – Bulgaria vs. Spain – 19:30 local time 1-3

Roster:
Courtney Baker (S) - Bridgewater, NS
Quinn Pelland (S) -  Wanham, AB
Kacey Jost (L) - St. Albert, AB
Julia Murmann (L) - Toronto, ON
Emily Maglio (MB) C - Coquitlam, BC
Jessica Andrews (MB) - Guelph, ON
Nyadholi Thokbuom (MB) - Calgary, AB
Abby Guezen (OH) - Sherwood Park, AB 
Andrea Mitrovic (OH) - Mississauga, ON
Hilary Johnson (OH) - Calgary, AB
Thana Fayad (OH) - Victoria, B.C. 
Vicky Savard (OH) -  Jonquière, QC
Anna Smrek (OPP) - Welland, ON
Lucy Borowski (OPP) - Vancouver, BC
 
Staff:
Giovanni Guidetti (Head Coach)
Vincenzo Mallia (Assistant Coach)
Carolyn O’Dwyer (Assistant Coach)
Ahmet Ersimsek (Assistant Coach)
Lydia Maxwell (Medical Lead)
Fatih Yagci (Statistician)
Mary Claire Geneau (IST Lead)
Sandy Heming (Physiotherapist)
Kelvin Ma (Team Lead)
Shannon Winzer (High Performance Director)

Watch all matches on VBTV.

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