Press release

Niterói, Brazil, August 6, 2011 – After a long five-set match, Canada defeated Egypt,  3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 15-11), and is now leading the Pool G with Japan and Tunisia yet to play at the FIVB Volleyball Men´s Junior World Championship, at Caio Martins Gymnasium in the dispute for the 9th place.

Even though Canada helped their opponents with 47 team errors, the North Americans were successful in the second match of the new round of matches and improved their record to 2-0 in the pool. Egypt fell to 0-2. Canada will play Tunisia on Sunday while Egypt will face Japan.

Canada led the match in attacks, 61-45, in blocks 17-5 and in service aces 6-1.

Bradley Kufske had 22 points for Canada, including a match-high 19 attacks. Nicholas Hoag added 20 points on 16 spikes, one block and a match-high three aces. Tommy Belisle and Lucas Van Berkel each had five blocks for Canada.

Hossam Sallam led Egypt with 17 points, all on attacks. Omar Hassan added 10 points on nine attacks and one block.  

In the first set, Egypt surged to an 8-2 lead at the first technical timeout (TTO). Canada was trailing 10-5 when it scored on an attack and got the serve for Bradley Kufske, who served for five straight points, including an ace, to take a 12-10 lead. Egypt came back to lead 13-10, including two Canada hitting errors. With Canada leading 15-14, Egypt scored six straight points to take a 20-15 lead and Canada could not answer.

Canada took an 8-5 lead at the first TTO of the second set. Egypt came back to within one point at 9-8, but Canada held them off and increased the lead to 18-11. Canada reached set point first at 24-19. Its next attack attempt went in the net but Bradley Kufske ended the set with a left-side spike.

Canada held a slim 8-7 lead at the first TTO of the third set and Egypt immediately tied it. The teams traded points until it was tied 9-9. Canada scored twice on an ace from Hoag and block by Belisle. Egypt came back to score, but Canada answered with the next four points to lead 15-10. Leading 18-13, Canada scored three straight points to go ahead 21-13 and Egypt could not respond.

Canada held an 8-6 lead at the first TTO of the fourth set but Egypt tied it at 8-8 on Sallam’s attack and Canada’s mishandling of a serve. Canada came back to lead at the second TTO, 16-14, but Egypt immediately tied it on Canada’s serve in the net and a lifting call. Egypt took an 18-16 lead on two straight Canada hitting errors. With Egypt still leading 23-20, Canada’s starter Belisle was hurt and had to leave the match and Egypt sailed to the win.

The fifth, tie-breaking set was tied at 7-7 when Canada scored on a Hoag attack. Egypt was given a yellow card and Canada scored again on a block to take a 10-7 lead. With Canada leading 11-8, Canada hit the ball out of bounds and Egypt’s Sallam scored on a right-side spike to pull Egypt to within one point at 11-10, but Hoag came back with a spike and added an ace. Kufske gave Canada match point at 14-10 with a left-side attack. Egypt held off the loss with an attack, but Kufske won it for Canada with a left-side attack.