LEÓN, MEXICO – Fighting Illini redshirt sophomore Taylor de Boer claimed the silver medal while playing for her home country of Canada at the U23 NORCECA Pan American Cup in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.
The U23 Canadian team, making its first-ever appearance in the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup final, fell to the United States in the final on Friday. The second-place finish is Canada’s best ever in the competition while it also served as the squad’s first-ever medal.
After going 1-2 during pool play, Canada defeated the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals in a five-set thriller – 25-20, 19-25, 12-25, 25-21, 15-9 – to earn a spot in the semifinals. Facing defending champion Cuba in the next round, a team that entered the match with a perfect 3-0 record, Canada pulled off the reverse sweep to clinch its berth in the final for the first time. Canada’s 21-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-9 victory saw de Boer record a team-high 16 kills.
In Friday’s final against the U.S., de Boer tallied Canada’s second-most kills with seven.
De Boer will remain in Mexico and take part in the Women’s Senior Pan American Cup. Canada begins action on Sunday against Colombia before taking on Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday and the Dominican Republic on Thursday to round out pool play.
Following her time on international duty, de Boer will return to Champaign as the Fighting Illini gear up for their season opener against South Dakota State on Aug. 29 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Illinois Athletics…