A new season means new events and opportunities for volleyball athletes across Canada. As the winter finally disappears, beach volleyball athletes are also coming out of hibernation and volleyball coaches get a chance to develop their coaching knowledge following the winter indoor season.
Check out some of the headlines from the Volleyball Canada website and be sure to connect with Volleyball Canada coaches, athletes, and staff on GMTM to find new opportunities.
Tickets On Sale For Volleyball Nations League In Ottawa
Single-day tickets for the first week of the Volleyball Nations League in Ottawa are now on sale. Eight teams and six days of world-class volleyball will be guaranteed in the tournament which will feature Canada, the USA, Argentina, Italy, Cuba, Germany, the Netherlands, and Brazil.
With the Volleyball Nations League returning to the capital once again in 2023, the International Coaching Symposium is back with its fourth edition.
— Ontario Volleyball Association (@ova_updates) March 21, 2023
Save the date for June 9-11 for the in-person symposium at the University of Ottawa. Details will come. pic.twitter.com/bIIOoHlAU8
The event will take place at the Arena at TD Place from May 30 to July 9 and will be the fifth edition of the premier annual competition for men's and women's national teams.
You can buy tickets for the event HERE.
Men's Indoor Nextgen Team Selected For International Play
Volleyball Canada has revealed the players for its 2023 Men's NextGen team, which will commence training in Gatineau, Quebec, on June 5. The team is set to participate in the NORCECA XVI Pan-American Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico from August 13 to 21, as well as the NORCECA Final Six in Edmonton, Alberta from September 16 to 25.
#Volleyball Men’s Indoor NextGen Team selected for 2023: https://t.co/F0Qmkj64rA 🏐🇨🇦💪
— Volleyball Canada (@VBallCanada) April 20, 2023
Sélection de l’équipe masculine NextGen pour 2023 : https://t.co/navN5vNG55 pic.twitter.com/F1QSHTbpG3
The NexGen team features several athletes from the previous season, as well as some new faces. Volleyball Canada's Indoor High-Performance Director, Julien Boucher, expressed excitement about the opportunity for the team to compete in front of a home crowd in Edmonton later in the season.
"It’s great to see many athletes returning to the program from last season as well as some new faces on the NexGen team for 2023," - Volleyball Canada's Julien Boucher in a press-release
Here is a look at the NextGen Men's roster for the 2023 season:
- Christopher Byam, Bow Island, AB
- Jordan Canham, Avonmore, ON
- Samuel Cooper, Hamilton, ON
- Landon Currie, Coldstream, BC
- Jesse Elser, Calgary, AB
- Mathias Elser, Calgary, AB
- Evan Falardeau, Stratford, ON
- Luke Herr, Winnipeg, MB
- Isaac Heslinga, Orangeville, ON
- Brodie Hofer, Langley, BC
- Logan House, Barrie, ON
- Liam Kristjanson, Oak River, MB
- Fynn McCarthy, Lake Country, BC
- Matthew Neaves, Calgary, AB
- Darian Picklyk, Winnipeg, MB
- James Vincett, Calgary, AB
- Brett Walsh, Calgary, AB
- Jackson Young, Etobicoke, ON
Dan Lewis will serve as Head Coach with Chris Voth and Dan Ota assisting.
Last year, the NextGen squad won a silver medal at the Pan Am Cup held in Gatineau, Quebec.
Dates Announced For University/College Beach National Championships
Volleyball Canada has announced that the 2023 Volleyball Canada University/College Beach National Championships will be held on September 2-3, 2023, at Ashbridges Bay in Toronto. Following the success of last year's first-ever tournament, this event is expected to generate even more excitement and competition.
Volleyball Canada's beach volleyball high-performance coaches will be present at the event to identify potential Beach National Team athletes who aspire to represent Canada in Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.
The championship is open to teams from post-secondary institutions across Canada and must be composed of athletes from the same institution. Registration for the event opened on April 12, 2023.
U19 Girls Indoor Team Selected For Pan American Cup
Twelve athletes were selected in early April to represent Canada in the 2023 U19 Girls' NORCECA Pan American Cup from May 7 to 15, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Training for the tournament will take place in Kitchener, Ontario on May 4-6 before the team travels to Puerto Rico.
"It is a really impressive group of young women, and I am excited to see them compete on the international stage... This is a really exciting time for the development of Canadian women’s volleyball as we continue to build the women’s pathway towards podium success at the international level." - Women’s indoor NextGen coach Carolyn O’Dwyer
Here is a look at the U19 Girls' roster for the NORCECA Pan American Cup:
- Taylor DeBoer, Outside hitter, BC
- Sophia Hansen, OH, AB
- Mary Healy, OH, CA
- Trinity Shadd-Ceres, OH, ON
- Lydia Johnson, Opposite, AB
- Abby Guezen, Opp, AB
- Ella Piskorz, Middle Blocker, ON
- Ronnie Dickson, MB, AB
- Isabella Tehrani, MB, ON
- Kaiya Tyson, Setter, ON
- Sophia Magus, Setter, SK
- Misha Hameed, Libero, AB
Christine Biggs will serve as Head Coach with Olivier Faucher and Sandra Lamb assisting.
Performance Analyst Troels Lavritsen and Athletic Trainer Craig Cuzion will also be traveling with the team to the first international tournament of the summer.
Canada Men Finish Fifth in Mexico, Women Eliminated in Early Rounds
Canadian beach volleyball duo Sam Schachter and Dan Dearing finished fifth at the 2023 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour La Paz Challenge in Mexico. The pair secured an impressive 2-0 win over Commonwealth rivals McHugh/Burnett of Australia in the round of 16, but then lost to Brazil’s Evandro/Arthur in the quarterfinals.
On the women’s side, Canadian teams Mckay/Wuttunee and Megan/Nicole were eliminated in the second round of qualification and McBain/Bélanger after the first round.
At a "Futures" event for up-and-coming teams in New Zealand, Canada’s Shanice Marcelle and Lea Monkhouse earned a bronze medal, while Darby Dunn and Olivia Furlan came in fourth.
Teaming Up To Promote Sport in Canada's Indigenous Communities
Volleyball Canada has partnered with several organizations to promote the sport of volleyball among Indigenous communities in Canada. The initiative originated from the "Community Sport for All Initiative" and aims to improve access to sports for Indigenous youth and encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
The partnership will involve the provision of equipment, training, and development resources to community organizations, schools, and youth groups. Volleyball Canada is also committed to providing training opportunities for coaches and officials to support the development of the sport in Indigenous communities.
Volleyball in 19 Quebec Indigenous communities.🏐
— Sport Canada (@SportCanada_EN) March 3, 2023
With support from Sport Canada, @VBallCanada and its community partners will provide equipment, coach training and support for youth volleyball programs. https://t.co/2tzg2UJBnl
The partnership reflects Volleyball Canada's commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in sport and increasing access to sport for underrepresented groups. Through this collaboration, the organization hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of Indigenous youth and promote the benefits of sport and physical activity.
