For the first time in the history of the tournament, Canada beat the U.S. in women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in Quebec City last week, and Langley setter Brie Fransen was among the victors. It was an impressive 3-0 sweep of the Olympic silver medal team from the United States, which included Canada making a comeback in the final set. Fransen is a Trinity Western University alum, along with fellow TWU grad Hilary Howe of Calgary, who both helped Canada to win against the U.S.
last Thursday, and then earned another victory Saturday, 3-1, against France. This victory came before a North American record-breaking crowd of 10,500 fans at the Centre Videotron in Quebec. Among other teammates from the Lower Mainland, there is Coquitlam’s Emily Maglio who is the team captain, and Surrey’s Kiera Van Ryk – a high scoring player for Canada throughout this tournament. Following a 2-3 defeat by Japan on Sunday, Van Ryk – who had three aces to position herself second in VNL’s all-time serving ranking
with 78 serve points in 54 matches played – was disappointed and at the same time really proud. “Being down against a team like Japan, it’s very difficult to come back, and generally throughout this week we were down a lot and we lost the first game,” said the 6-foot-2 Surrey spiker. “But our ability to come back and fight is something that we can take forward into the rest of the summer; it’s not easy to be down and it’s not easy to be
down against Japan as they are an incredibly technical and a very gifted team. Team Japan works very hard and to be down two sets, and to come back to force it to a fifth set, not many teams have that level of fight. Even though we lost, I’m still proud of my team.” Team Canada, under the guidance of head coach Giovanni Guidetti, kicked off the season and the tournament with a 1-3 loss to Germany last week and the defeat by Japan this
past Sunday. The coach described the fall to Germany as a tough loss, but commended the women for their efforts against the U.S. “We were another team. We were looking much better and organized on the court, so I congratulate the team for this win… When you are against the United States and you’re down 20-24, you may feel you’ve already lost the set. But they didn’t stop believing and the U.S. gave us a chance and we took it.” Assistant coach Carolyn O’Dwyer noted
the team ended the week with two wins and two losses. “We want to keep growing and improving with every game throughout VNL leading up the Olympic qualifier (in August),” she said. Later this month Canada’s women’s team play in Thailand. Meanwhile the men’s VNL tournament in Ottawa is underway this week.
MISRYOUM, Canada women's volleyball, Volleyball Nations League, Quebec City, Brie Fransen, Trinity Western University, Hilary Howe, Emily Maglio, Kiera Van Ryk, Giovanni Guidetti, Carolyn O’Dwyer, Japan, France, United States
Volleyball Canada beating the US?? I thought the US would be automatic, guess not.
It says 10,500 fans in Quebec and everyone’s acting like it’s huge, but that’s still not even close to NHL crowds. Also 3-0 sweep is crazy… like did the US just forget how to play?
So Fransen helped Canada win, but then they lost to Japan right after? Sounds like they only beat the US because the US was tired or missing someone? Idk, Japan games always mess with teams.
Giovanni Guidetti coaching and they come back down 20-24?? That part reads like they were just saving energy for the last set, lol. Also the captain Emily Maglio and Kiera Van Ryk with the aces… I swear volleyball is all about one player popping off. Glad Canada won but the U.S. “gave them a chance”?? feels like the U.S. threw it a little.