Canada powers past Guatemala to open Junior NORCECA Championships

 COLORADO SPRINGS (August 27, 2012) - Canada used a 17-3 block advantage to defeat Guatemala 25-15, 25-13, 25-21 in its opening 2012 NORCECA Men’s Junior Continental Championship match on Monday afternoon at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Canada was sparked offensively by Dany Demyanenko’s 17 points in the victory. Alexander William Russell added 12 points, which included four blocks and four aces.

With the score tight in the opening set, Canada dominated the end for a 25-15 victory. Canada continued the pressure in the second set without allowing Guatemala to come close in a 25-13 victory. Guatemala scored the first two points of the third set and led 9-7, but Canada propelled to a 25-21 victory with the final five points.

Aside from a dominating block, Canada produced a 7-0 margin in aces to offset 21 miscues to Guatemala’s 18.

Canada returns to Pool B action on Tuesday against Curacao at 11:00.

“First I want to congratulate Guatemala for a great match, they put up a good fight especially in the third set,” Canada captain Milan Nikic said. “I thought we made some good in-game adjustments, but we still have a few things to work on.”

“I thought Guatemala challenged us today,” Canada coach David Preston said. “They had great speed and execution, and their outsides were faster than what we have faced in training. I thought we made some good in-game adjustments and got the result we wanted. However, I think we still need to improve.”

The NORCECA (North America, Central American and Caribbean) event, which is held bi-annually, will qualify three teams from the confederation for the 2013 FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship.

Canada hosted the previous U21 NORCECA event in 2010 and won the silver medal losing to the U.S., in the final.  The Canadians have won medals at five of the seven editions of the tournament including the last three

Roster

Milan	Nikic	Calgary, AB	Setter
Joshua	McKay	Winnipeg, MB	Setter
Danny	Demyanenko	Toronto, ON	Middle
Jim	Bell	Surrey, BC	Middle
Alex	Russell	Surrey, BC	Middle
Ryley	Barnes	St-Paul, AB	Leftside
Dan	Groenveld	Welland, ON	Leftside
Brook	Sedore	Grande Prairie, AB	Leftside
Stephen	Maar	Aurora, ON	Leftside
Jarrid	Ireland	Winnipeg, MB	Opposite
Andrew	Nelson	Regina, SK	Opposite
Tyler	Koslowsky	Abbotsford, BC	Libero

 

Staff

 

Coach	Dave	Preston
Ass.Coach	Brad	Poplawski
Ass.Coach	Shane	St-Louis
Therapist	Caroline	Pelletier
Therapist	Luc	Campbell
Coordinator	Sophie	Gadoury
Statistician	Nathan	Janzen

 

 

Information: www.norceca.net and www.volleyball.ca