Canada opened their campaign with a strong performance, sweeping Slovenia 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-12 ) to secure a victory on the first day of competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Thursday at North Paris Arena.
Jennifer Oakes contributed to her team her team’s success, contributing 14 points with six attacks, two blocks and six aces. Danielle Ellis matched Oakes in scoring, adding 12 attacks and two blocks to her tally. On the Slovenian side, Klara Vrabic led the effort with eight points from six attacks and two blocks.
Canada set the tone early in the first set, with Heidi Peters’ serves immediately putting Slovenia on the defensive. The Canadian side quickly established an 11-2 lead, with Oakes and Ellis dominating at the net. Voss-Shafiq also made significant contributions with key blocks, preventing Slovenia from gaining any momentum. Despite Vrabic’s efforts to rally her team, Slovenia struggled to find an answer to Canada’s aggressive play. The set concluded with Oakes delivering a powerful serve that forced a defensive error from Slovenia, sealing the set 25-11.
Slovenia responded with more resistance in the second set, adjusting their strategy to keep the scoreline closer. Vrabic and Kotnik Hren Sasa played pivotal roles in narrowing the gap, delivering several well-placed attacks. However, Canada maintained their composure, with Ellis and Peters leading the charge. As the set reached its climax at 24-21, Peters delivered a serve that proved too difficult for Slovenia’s Barbara Kocmur to handle, securing the set for Canada at 25-21.
The third set saw Canada reassert their dominance. Oakes continued to shine, with Ellis providing consistent support at the net. Canada quickly built a lead, with Slovenia struggling to keep pace. The final point came as Slovenia, under pressure from Canada’s relentless attacks, made a blocking error that allowed Canada to close the set 25-12 and secure the match victory.
Photo: WPV/Sinisa Kanizaj.
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