NEWS FLASH N° 4
November 2002

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TEAM CANADA
SUMMER  2002


CANADA /JAPAN EASTERN CANADA 
 TOUR  
2002




CANADA CUP 
2002
 
WINNIPEG, CANADA
 

 


PAN AMERICA'S CUP 2002
 
TIJUANA, MEXICO
CANADA/JAPAN TOUR 2002
 
WINNIPEG, CANADA
CANADA/DOMINICAN REP. 2002
 
WINNIPEG, CANADA
CANADA/CZECH REP. TOUR 2002
 
CZECH REPUBLIC
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002
 
SCHWERIN, GERMANY

While I hope that all of you had an exciting summer at the beach, on vacation and just enjoying yourselves with friends and family, I chose to spend my time doing what I know and love best:  Playing volleyball. 
Returning with Team Canada this year was the beginning of a two year plan to kick-start my future, after volleyball. It is also the time limit I've given myself to find out what it is that I have been searching for in this sport for all these years.  With life's ups and downs, I hope to look back on this period, knowing that I lived all that I could and with everything but regrets. 
This summer, Team Canada went on an adventure that would eventually lead to the World Championships in Germany.  Starting with an exhibition tour with Japan at the end of May, our team was in search of its potential (while waiting for the return of the veterans from their pro teams in early June).  Japanese teams have always been known for their consistency, speed and strength, regardless of their often young team.
Our next step was Canada Cup 2002 (June 13-16) which included teams from Puerto Rico, Australia, and Japan.  This annual, four-team tournament gave us a chance to play in front of a home crowd for the first time in 2 years.  We gladly rose to the occasion, winning our first match against Puerto Rico
3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 26-24).  We also won our second match against Australia 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-18), playing a lot more consistently than our first match and in preparation for our most challenging third match against Japan. 
Our first disappointing loss of the tournament was against Japan.  Although playing very hard for most of the match, our unforced errors at crucial moments left us trailing Team Japan after the first set (24-26).  After another close loss in the second set (26-28), an intense third set win brought us back in the match (25-22).  However, the stellar defensive play and consistent attack of Japan led them to 3-1 win against Team Canada in the fourth set (23-25). 
Team Canada and Team Japan would meet again in the Canada Cup final where the consistently strong play of  Japan would once again win against a less convincing Team Canada (3-0). 

The first ever Pan American Cup held in Tijuana, Mexico (June 24-30) would be another major competition in preparation for the World Championships at the end of the summer.  The tournament of 7 teams in two pools would include the hosting country Mexico, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Canada, USA National B team, Puerto Rico and Cuba.  Most of these teams would later go on to play in the World Championships in Germany. 

Canada's Results:
Canada - USA

3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-21)

Canada - Cuba

0-3 (19-25, 22-25, 18-25)

Canada - Puerto Rico

3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-22)

Canada - Dominican Rep.

0-3 (15-25, 20-25, 13-25)

Canada - Mexico

3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-16)

Canada finished third for the bronze medal at this tournament.  However, even though Canada played some very good, promising volleyball, the inconsistency of the team was clear in the 3-0 wins and the 0-3 losses, and would prove to be very detrimental to the team's success at the World Championships. 

After a brief mental and physical break, Team Canada trained and played several exciting exhibition matches against Dominican Republic 's powerful attacks (similar to a team like Cuba) and yet another Japanese team, Hitachi Mobari (similar to the fast, consistent play of Korea) and finally against Czech Republic, all in preparation for the teams we would encounter at the World Championships.

World Championships August 30 - September 15 2002
Schwerin,
Germany

Canada finished between 17th and 20th in the tournament. 
After many exciting moments this summer, and a very promising first 2 matches at the World Championships, it was very disappointing that Canada didn't qualify for the second round of the tournament.  It is always easier to reason after the disappointment and regrets have subsided and all in all, Canada has a young, but potentially strong team that needs to learn discipline and consistency in the most important moments of the match.  I am convinced that if this team stays together and works to improve these things in the next year, we will have a team that can stand up to and beat many of the teams that we unfortunately lost to this summer.  Our goal is to develop this team and go into the qualification for the Olympics 204 with one of Canada's best teams ever.  Are we up to it team?  I say we are!!!

Game Results at the World's

Canada - Egypt

3-0 (25-9, 25-23, 25-12)

Canada - Cuba

2-3 (25-22, 22-25, 14-25, 10-15)

Canada - Korea

0-3 (11-25, 19-25, 15-25)

Canada - Romania

0-3 (21-25, 18-25, 22-25)

Canada - Netherlands

3-0 (18-25, 21-25, 23-25)