CIS athletes road to the Olympics: Canada loses opening match at Olympic qualifier

Source: Volleyball Canada / Photo credit Richard Lam

TIJUANA, Mexico - Canada’s national women’s volleyball team lost 25-18, 25-14, 25-21 to Puerto Rico on Sunday evening in the opening match for both countries at Olympic qualifying  tournament.

The winner of the week-long event earns a ticket to the 2012 London Games.

Sarah Pavan of Kitchener, Ont., was Canada’s leading scorer with 11 points while Tammy Mahon of Holland, Man., added nine.

Canada has a rough start to the match falling behind 8-3 at the first time out break in the opening set.  In sets two and three, the Canadians built early leads but were eventually caught by the unrelenting Puerto Rican squad.

In the other Group A match, the Dominican Republic trounced Honduras 25-5, 25-5, 25-7 while in Group B, Cuba hammered Trinidad and Tobago 25-15, 25-7, 25-12.  The Mexico – Costa Rica match was later Sunday.

The top three in each group after the round robin advance to the playoff round.

Canada faces the Dominican on Monday at 8 p.m. (EDT)

SCHEDULE

April. 30: Round robin match #2 - Canada vs. Dominican Republic
May 1: Round robin match #3 - Canada vs. Honduras
May 2: Quarterfinals
May 4: Semi-finals
May 5: Finals

WEBCAST
www.norceca.org

TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
www.norceca.org

TEAM CANADA ROSTER

Left Sides:
Tammy Mahon: Holland, MB
Tonya Mokelki: Weyburn, SK
Liz Cordonier: Vancouver, BC
Kyla Richey: Vancouver BC

Middle Blockers:
Jennifer Hinze: Vancouver, BC
Marisa Field: Vancouver, BC
Tasha Holness: Calgary, AB

Right Sides:
Sarah Pavan: Kitchener, ON
Brittney Page: Vernon, BC

Setters:
Jaclyn Ellis: Mississauga, ON
Kelci French : Okotoks, AB

Liberos:
Julie Young: Red Deer, AB