Canada, with Courtenay’s Brad Gunter in the lineup, was swept by the U.S. 25-15, 25-15, 25-22 in its final round-robin match Monday in Izmir, Turkey at the 20-country FIVB U21 World Championships in men’s volleyball.
Canada ended the round robin with two wins and two losses and ranks third in Group C to advance to the round of 16 playoffs. Serbia won the group with a perfect 4-0 mark while the U.S. and Tunisia, also with 2-2 marks, ranked second and fourth.
It actually went down to a third tie-breaker between Canada and Tunisia for third spot. Both countries were also tied in points and sets ratios. The third tie break was the match between the two teams which Canada won last Thursday. Rwanda went 0-4 for fifth spot.
Against the U.S. Stephen Maar of Aurora, Ont., led Canada with 13 points while Gunter added nine. Canada opened the tournament with wins over Tunisia and Rwanda before falling to Serbia on Sunday.
“We are obviously not happy with the result (against the U.S.),” said Canadian team captain Milan Nikic of Calgary. “In the third set we started competing at our highest level.”
Canada faces France on Wednesday in the round of 16. The French were second in Group D with three wins and a loss.
