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Team Canada celebrates during their sweeping victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday (Photo: Facebook / NORCECA / @Norcecainfo)
By Shaun Penner
Olympic Qualifying

Canada, Smith earn second win at Continental Cup

Oct 10, 2019 | 8:23 AM

It’s a 2-0 start for Team Canada at the NORCECA Continental Cup in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Canadian Women’s Volleyball team, featuring Beaverlodge’s Danielle Smith, swept Costa Rica 3-0 on Wednesday (25-20, 25-8, 25-13). The victory follows a win over Cuba to open the tournament on Tuesday.

Smith did see the floor in yesterday’s match, where she recorded one serve.

Canada closes out the round-robin of the tournament this evening as they face the host Puerto Ricans, which stands to be a very pivotal match. Puerto Rico currently sits in first in Pool A ahead of Canada by one point, because of a sweep over Costa Rica in their opening match on Tuesday. Canada needed four sets to get by Cuba in its opener.

A win today for either side advances them straight to the semi-finals on Saturday, while the loser will be forced to play in the quarterfinals tomorrow against either Mexico or Trinidad and Tobago.

The top three teams not already qualified for the Olympics (USA is already through) or already in the January qualifying tournament (the Dominicans are in as hosts) will get the chance to play in the North American qualifier for a chance to make it to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.

by Shaun Penner