SPARTANS QUARTET HELPS CANADA TO SILVER MEDAL AT JUNIOR PAN AM CUP

Derek Thiessen

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2011
U21 PAN AMERICAN CUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS QUARTET HELPS CANADA TO SILVER MEDAL AT JUNIOR PAN AM CUP  

Bookmark and Share

PANAMA CITY – Canada won the silver medal late Monday night at the inaugural Junior Pan Am Cup men’s volleyball tournament dropping the championship final to Venezuela 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-19, 25-23).

Despite losing in the gold medal match, the Canadian team, which featured Trinity Western’s Brad Kusfske (Abbotsford, B.C.), Lucas Van Berkel (Edmonton, Alta.), Derek Thiessen (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Branden Schmidt (Winton, Alta.), was an impressive bunch in the tournament's playoffs. After going just 1-2 in the round robin, the red and white turned things around in a hurry as they beat the Dominican Republic in the quarter-final (3-0; 25-17, 25-14, 25-16) and then knocked off previously unbeaten Chile in the semifinal (3-0; 25-19, 25-19, 25-18), setting up the championship match with undefeated Venezuela.

In the final match, Nicholas Hoag (Sherbrooke, Que.), registered 17 points to lead the Canadian attack while Kufske and Daniel Moreau (Sherbrooke) added 13 points each. Canada ended the competition with an overall record of three wins and three losses
.
“I am very proud of my boys who made a great effort and showed what they are capable of,’’ said Canada’s national team coach Georges Laplante.

Venezuela out-blocked Canada13-9 and was also better serving as they had eight aces to Canada’s four.

“It was a very difficult match and not the regular 3-1 victory as the Canadians adjusted their defence and made it hard for us,’’ said Venezuela’s coach Gilberto Herrera.

Kufske finished the tournament third on his team with 52 points, which included 18 in a round robin game against Mexico, while Van Berkel combined for 46, Thiessen had 19 and Schmidt finished with six.

The tournament was the first big tune-up for the Canadian squad which is ultimately preparing for the world junior championships in Brazil July 31 to Aug. 10.

Next up for Canada will be a training camp in Slovenia July 8-16 before they go on a final pre-World Championship tour of Argentina July 25-30.

-Volleyball Canada-
-TW-

Last Updated: 2011-06-28
Author: Mark Janzen