August 31, 2021: Canada beat the United States in five sets 3-2 (25-17, 17-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-8) to win the bronze medal at the Women’s NORCECA Continental Championship in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Tuesday evening. 
  
Canada’s Kiera Van Ryk led with 17 kills, four serves and added three blocks for 24 points – eight of those points were in the tie-break set alone. Middle blocker Jennifer Cross contributed 15 points on 10 kills, leading blocks with four and one ace, and outside hitter Hilary Howe added 14 points.
 
This is Canada’s second bronze in a row; they now have two silvers and 10 bronze medals in the tournament’s history.
 
Canada led in kills 50-49, and in blocks 16-11. The U.S. top scorer was opposite player Veronica Perry with 21 points.
 
Shannon Winzer, head coach, said: "Kiera made an unbelievable difference, she showed up today and I think we got to see the Kiera Van Ryk that we were used to seeing in the VNL (Volleyball Nations League), her coming back in the fifth and serving like that, won us the game. Everyday we’ve asked our players to have that warrior mindset - we were still up and down but we were just warriors today.”
 
Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico won gold and silver respectively, and earned the two berths to the FIVB World Championship.

Event web site: www.norceca.net

Media contact: Jackie Skender 

Photo: NORCECA