CIS athletes lead Canada to silver medal at junior Pan Am Cup

Source: Volleyball Canada

TWU's Brad Kufske had 13 points during Monday's final, where Canada claimed a silver medal at the Pan Am U21 Cup volleyball tournament.

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 25-23, 16-25, 25-19, 25-23.
 
Nicholas Hoag of Sherbrooke, Que., registered 17 points to lead the Canadian attack while Daniel Moreau of Sherbrooke and Bradley Kufske of Abbotsford, B.C., added 13 each. Canada ends the competition with an overall record of three wins and three losses while Venezuela was undefeated in its five matches.
 
“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 their opponents 13-9 and they were also better in the aces department 8-4.
 
 “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.
 
The tournament was a first big tune-up for the Canadian squad which is ultimately preparing for the world junior championships later this summer in Brazil.
 
The men’s national junior volleyball team sorted by province:
 
Alberta: Tristan Aubry, Edmonton; Jay Olmstead, Edmonton; Lucas VanBerkel, Edmonton; Branden Schmidt, Winton; Jarron Mueller, Calgary.
 
B.C.: Alex Davis, White Rock; Bradley Kufske, Abbotsford; Derek Thiessen, Coquitlam.
 
Manitoba: Brett Wiess, Winnipeg.
 
Ontario: Tyler (TJ) Sanders, London.
 
Quebec: Nicholas Hoag, Sherbrooke; Daniel Moreau, Sherbrooke; Tommy Bélisle, Quebec City.
 
Saskatchewan: Braden McLean, Birch Hills.
 
Head coach: Georges Laplante, Montreal
 
Assistant coaches: Greg Barthel, Regina and Brad Poplawski, Edmonton.
 
More information: www.volleyball.ca and www.norceca.org