2015 Summer Universiade: Canada shows progress, but loses a second game

GWANGJU, South Korea (Team Canada) – The Canadian men's volleyball junior national team suffered its second loss in as many days at the Summer Universiade as they fell 3-0 (21-25, 15-25, 15-25) to Thailand on Friday.

Gwangju 2015 website: www.gwangju2015.com

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2015/index

Team Canada Twitter: @CDNUniversiade | #goCanadaU

Canada had a good start to open up the match, taking an early 12-10 lead. However with the game tied at 13, Thailand went on an 8-1 run to take a 21-14 lead. The red and white squad came back with a late rally, but Thailand closed out the set at 25-21.

Hitter Brandon Koppers (McMaster University) made finished the set with five kills while Edmonton native Arran Chambers (University of Alberta) was solid at the net with three blocks.

"First contact is very important and we struggled with our reception and our serve today. When it happens, everything becomes difficult and the confidence is affected", said head coach John Barrett (University of Toronto).

Thailand deepened their lead in the second set. With the score close at 10-9 they once again went on a run winning seven of the eight following points. Winning that set 25-15, they led the game two sets to none and the following one was also at their advantage and they ended to game with a 25-15 win.

Koppers, from Georgetown, Ont., was the leading scorer on the Canadian side, finishing with seven kills and two blocks.

Canada will now break until July 6th when they face off against the defending gold medallists from Russia.

Source: CIS