Canada Gets Served a Setback 🏐

(Ron Ward / Volleyball Canada)

Quick rundown: Bittersweet was the taste that left the Maple Volleys’ mouths as they exited the NORCECA Olympic qualification tournament in Moncton with silver, losing to Cuba 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22).

Just a few days earlier, Canada fell to the United States in the 2026 NORCECA Championship final. Despite the loss, Canada finished second and secured a spot in the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Cup.

So, Canada leaves Moncton with a silver medal, a 2027 World Cup berth and a whole lot of what-ifs.

The bad news: Only one spot to Los Angeles 2028 would be awarded to the winner of the Olympic qualifier, and it went to Cuba.

The good news: The road to LA isn’t over yet.

Canada’s 2027 World Cup berth gives the Maple Volleys another path to the Olympics. The top three teams at the World Cup that have not already qualified will earn an Olympic berth. If Canada doesn’t finish among them, the Maple Volleys would have one last chance in 2028, with the remaining Olympic berths going to the top three non-qualified teams in the FIVB World Rankings following the preliminary phase of the VNL.

Bottom line, there’s still hope.

The U SPORTS connection: Twelve former U SPORTS athletes were part of the Canadian squad that earned a spot in the 2027 World Cup.

• Max Elgert — Alberta Golden Bears

• Luke Herr — Manitoba Bisons

• Danny Demyanenko — McMaster Marauders

• Stephen Maar — McMaster Marauders

• Jackson Young — Nipissing Lakers

• Xander Ketrzynski — TMU Bold

• Jackson Howe — Trinity Western Spartans

• Fynn McCarthy — UBC Thunderbirds

• Eric Loeppky — Trinity Western Spartans

• Zachary Hollands — Sherbrooke Vert & Or

• Landon Currie — Alberta Golden Bears, Thompson Rivers Wolfpack

• Skylar Varga — Saskatchewan Huskies

For Canada, the road to Los Angeles 2028 hasn’t ended, but the silver medal they earned last week leaves a bittersweet aftertaste as that road gets a little longer