Canada won the first match of NORCECA Men’s Olympic Qualifier 

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico, January 6, 2008.- Canada won the first match of the NORCECA Men’s Olympic Qualifier by defeating Trinidad & Tobago in straight sets by scores of 25-9, 25-14, 25-15.

Dallas Soonias led Canada with 11 points and Luis-Pierre Manville came off the bench to add 10 tallies. Steve Brinkman contributed 8 points.

“We focused in the process of making the right plays to win the points,” said Glenn Hoag, the Canadian coach. “We will try to do the same against Cuba tomorrow.”

“It was good that our coach was able to use all the players in the first match to have everyone going,” said Murray Grapentine, the captain of Canada.

The Canadians jumped to an 8-1 lead in the first set using their size at the net and never looked back taking the victory 25-9 with Soonias leading the way.

Trinidad & Tobago improved a little in the second but it wasn’t enough while the Canadians’ coach started to use his bench players after the second pause. The set concluded 25-14.

The Canadians second-string players proved they were more than capable to win the third set by comfortable margin 25-15.