Canada to face Turkey in Volleyball World League semifinals
After an impressive campaign in the Preliminary Round, Volleyball Canada will face Turkey in a crucial semifinal match of the 2016 FIVB World League on Saturday in Matosinhos, Portugal.
Following the team’s qualification for Rio 2016, Canada won its first eight matches of World League preliminary round action. They lost 3-2 to Finland in the final game – but a spot in the semifinals had already been guaranteed.
Canada finished the Preliminary Round in first place / Photo via FIVB
“This was of course a disappointing end for us because we had won all the previous matches. But we must forget this and concentrate on the final four. We want to take the title,” Canada captain Fred Winters told FIVB.com.
RELATED: Carioca Crash Course: Volleyball edition
Canada’s opponent, Turkey, also ended the preliminary round with a record of eight wins in nine matches, finishing second in the group stage.
While Turkey lost just 10 sets in those matches, the Canadian squad was on the losing end in only seven, setting up an encounter between two teams that have shown an ability to close out opponents in World League Group 2.
Later on Saturday, host Portugal will meet the Netherlands in the other semifinal match.
The semifinal winners will face each other on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET to battle for the 2016 FIVB World League title, which could also lead to a promotion to Group 1 next season.
