In an extremely competitive match in the preliminary phase of Group E in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Canada achieved a partial comeback and defeated Spain 3-2 in sets. Giovanni Guidetti's team was trailing 1-2 but managed to assert their will in the fourth set and close the tie-break with a dominant performance in the decisive moments. Things could have looked different if the Iberians had taken the second set and the score had become 2-0, but the Americans' more patient play brought them success.
With this success, the "Maple Leafs" now have 5 points and have practically guaranteed their qualification for the eliminations, unless Bulgaria causes a sensation against Turkey and then convincingly defeats Spain. Our girls, who have the weakest performance so far, dropped to the last place in the group before today's upcoming clash with the European champions from Turkey.
Set scores
Canada - Spain 3:2(22:25, 28:26, 24:26, 25:15, 15:10)
Overall Team Statistics
| Team | Attack | Block | Serve | Opponent Errors | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 66 | 11 | 3 | 33 | 113 |
| Spain | 59 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 101 |
The Canadians won the match mainly due to the strength of their block - 11 against 6, and with better attacking (66 successful attacks against 59). The Spanish even made one more error, which proved crucial in an evenly matched game.
Defense and Reception Play
| Team | Digs | Reception | Setting (passes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 93 | 85 | 156 |
| Spain | 99 | 95 | 160 |
The Spanish were better in defense and reception, but the Canadians' more effective realization in attack neutralized this advantage. Guidetti managed to build a balance between stable distribution and decisive finishing shots.
Top scorers
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mitrovic (No. 11) | Canada | 22 |
| Johnson (No. 14) | Canada | 20 |
| Varela (No. 12) | Spain | 16 |
| Hernandez (No. 4) | Spain | 12 |
The Mitrovic–Johnson duo brought a total of 42 points for Canada, which was the decisive factor for the success. The Spanish did not have such a prominent leader, with Varela being the top scorer with 16 points.
Canada showed character and stable mentality in key moments, making the most of their advantage at the net. With the 2 points won, the team secured peace of mind for their last group stage match.
