The triumph will keep them inside the qualification zone for the Paris Games at the conclusion of the week
Kiera Van Ryk and Brie O’Reilly were key pieces in the Canadian success in Rio
Canada completed their match schedule in the opening week of the Volleyball Nations League 2024 on Saturday with the feeling of mission accomplished as they entered the qualification zone for the Paris Olympics after their victory over Thailand. China and the Dominican Republic also triumphed in the fifth day of action in Rio de Janeiro.
- Watch Volleyball Nations League 2024 live on VBTV
The Canadians got to celebrate a win for a third-straight day at the Maracanãzinho on Saturday as, after triumphs against the Dominican Republic and China on Thursday and Friday respectively, they downed Thailand 3-1 (25-21, 25-13, 20-25, 25-17).
Looking to return to the Olympics for the first time since Atlanta 1996, the Canadians benefited from the 3.69 points earned with their victory over the Asians and the 7.12 points dropped by the Netherlands earlier on Saturday in Antalya following their three-set loss to Poland to pass the Europeans in the FIVB World Rankings, becoming the fourth team not yet qualified to appear in the list, now inside the qualification zone, in tenth place.
With 290.69 points, Canada added as many as 24.95 this week in Rio, taking full advantage of the first week of matches of the VNL 2024. They are guaranteed to start the second week of the Preliminary Phase inside the qualification zone even if the Netherlands (282.19) sweep Germany in their last match in Antalya on Sunday as the result would give them just 6.98 points.
Maglio benefited from her height advantage to dominate the net with ten kills and four blocks
Opposite Kiera Van Ryk was Canada’s top scorer in the match with 22 points (21 kills, one block). Middle blocker Emily Maglio, with 14 points, and outside hitter Alexa Gray, with 13, also got to double digits in scoring.
“We obviously wanted to have won it in three, but Thailand came back, fought hard and they played well,” Van Ryk commented. “We had to come back in the fourth set and we started really well, which gave us a little bit of a gap to work with. I’m proud of how we came back, fought until the end and did the job we needed to do. This is probably one of the best weeks we’ve ever had in the VNL and we’re hoping to build off of that and do even better on the next one. We’re getting the points we need to get and continuing…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Asian Volleyball Confederation…