The Canadian national team is among the most unpredictable opponents on the eve of the Women's Volleyball World Championship, which begins at the end of this week. Bulgaria will start its participation in the group stage precisely against the "Maple Leafs", and the question "with which 14 will Canada play?" remains partially open.
The control match in China suggests the core of the team
In their last test before the championship - the Austiger Cup tournament in Shenzhen (China) - Canada relied on 14 players. These were:
Savard, Murmann, Baker, Mitrovic, Howe, Guezen, Joost, Smerek, Maglio, Borowski, Pilon, Toktvoum, Fafard, and Andrews.
Precisely this squad played the tournament, with the main core built around stars Andrea Mitrovic, Anna Smerek, and Emily Maglio. They were the backbone in attack and block, while Hilary Howe bore the greatest burden of reception.
| Name (Bulgarian) | Name (English) |
|---|---|
| Вики Савард | Vicky Savard |
| Джулия Мурман | Julia Murmann |
| Кортни Бейкър | Courtney Baker |
| Андреа Митрович | Andrea Mitrovic |
| Хилари Хау | Hilary Howe |
| Абигейл Гюзен | Abagayle Guezen |
| Kacey Jost | Kacey Jost |
| Anna Smrek | Anna Smrek |
| Emily Maglio | Emily Maglio |
| Lucy Borowski | Lucy Borowski |
| Quinn Pelland | Quinn Pelland |
| Nyadholi Thokbuom | Nyadholi Thokbuom |
| Thana Fayad | Thana Fayad |
| Jessica Andrews | Jessica Andrews |
The long list opens the door for changes
According to FIVB regulations, each federation sends a 'long list' of up to 25 players, from which the final 14 are announced immediately before the tournament. The Canadian version also includes a number of players who were not in China - among them stands out the name of Kiera Van Ryk, captain and main scorer in recent years.
Her absence from the Austiger Cup raised questions, as there is no official information about an injury or withdrawal. This suggests that head coach Giovanni Guidetti may have been saving his star for the big event.
Zetova's hint
It is curious that just before leaving for China, during the open training of the Bulgarian team, assistant coach Antonina Zetova stated that Bulgaria would have a chance to take advantage of "the absence of two key figures in Canada."
Although she did not mention specific names, the logical assumption is that her words are also related to Kiera Van Ryk. If the 'Maple Leaves' strongest weapon indeed remains out of the final roster, this will be a huge bonus for Bulgaria. But if Van Ryk appears literally at the last moment among the 14, the situation will be completely different and will change the dynamics of the match.
Canada is one of those opponents who can be a 'black cat' for any favorite. Giovanni Guidetti's selection is young, tall and athletic, and the question mark around Van Ryk makes the upcoming match with Bulgaria even more intriguing.
The final list of 14 can be released at any moment (at the latest, the day before the start of the tournament), which means that the 'tricolors' will have to prepare their tactical options for both scenarios.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov andvolleyballworld.com
