Canada Secures First NORCECA Continental Title
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A historic victory over the United States puts the Canadian women's volleyball team in position to end a decades-long Olympic drought.
The Canadian women's volleyball team captured its first NORCECA continental championship in program history, defeating the United States 3-2 on Wednesday in the Dominican Republic, according to Sportsnet.
Canada entered the tournament as the world's eighth-ranked team and finished the event with a perfect 5-0 record. The final match ended with set scores of 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 18-25, and 15-10 in Canada's favor. Anna Smrek led the team with 20 points, including 14 attacks, five blocks, and one ace. Other key contributors included Andrea Mitrovic with 16 points, Abby Guezen with 14 points, and Nyadholi Thokbuom with 12 points. Libero Kacey Jost was named the tournament's most valuable player.
Coach Giovanni Guidetti described the gold medal as a reflection of how special the team is, though he noted there is no time to celebrate as the team shifts its focus toward the Olympic qualifier. Canada has not qualified for the Olympics since 1996.
By finishing in the top four, Canada has advanced to a four-team qualifier taking place Friday and Saturday in the Dominican Republic for a spot in the Los Angeles Olympics. As the host, the United States is excluded from this specific qualifier. Canada is scheduled to face No. 26 Puerto Rico on Friday, while No. 15 Dominican Republic plays No. 25 Cuba. The winners of those matches will compete Saturday for the Olympic berth.
Looking ahead, Sportsnet reports that Canada and the U.S. are set to share hosting duties for the 2027 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup, scheduled for next August and September.