Canada's Kiera Van Ryk spikes the ball during a Volleyball Women's Nations League match against Brazil, at the Maracanazinho stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
FUKUOKA, Japan – The Canadian women’s volleyball team’s push for Olympic qualification hit a snag Tuesday with a lopsided 3-0 loss to Italy in Volleyball Nations League action.
The Italians, ranked fourth in the world, posted set scores of 25-16, 25-15 and 25-14 in the dominant win.
Italy’s Paola Egonu led all scorers with 18 points.
Kiera Van Ryk of Surrey, B.C., had 13 points for Canada, which fell to 5-4 in VNL play.
The 10th-ranked Canadian women are still vying for a place at this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
Seven women’s teams have already qualified. The remaining spots will go to the top five unqualified teams in the FIVB rankings at the end of the VNL preliminary phase.
Canada next faces host Japan on Thursday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2024.
