FIVB OQT: Canada Concludes Ningbo Journey with Victory Over Czech Republic

On the concluding day of the FIVB Olympic Qualification Tournament’s Pool A in Ningbo, Canada clinched a decisive victory against the Czech Republic in straight sets (25-20, 25-19, 25-21). The win concluded Canada’s tournament campaign with an impressive 5-2 win-loss record, earning them 18.71 world ranking points. In contrast, the Czech Republic ended the tournament on a less positive note, with a 2-5 win-loss record and a loss of 5.18 world ranking points.

In a post-match interview, we caught up with Canada’s outside hitter, Andrea Mitrovic, to reflect on the team’s experience in Ningbo. Despite challenging aspects such as adjusting to the local timezone, Mitrovic stated that the team had navigated these obstacles successfully. Mitrovic expressed mixed feelings regarding the team’s results, suggesting that while they had performed admirably, there were matches they could have won.

Shannon Winzer, the head coach of Team Canada, echoed Mitrovic’s sentiments. She praised the team for bringing a lot of energy to the final game and expressed a strong desire to end the season on a high note. Despite the tournament’s competitive nature, Winzer expressed satisfaction with their performance, particularly given the strength of their pool.

When asked about balancing her coaching responsibilities with motherhood, Winzer acknowledged the challenges but emphasized her ability to focus on her role when in Ningbo. She also voiced her hope to inspire other women and individuals with families by showing them that balancing family and professional commitments is possible.

Czech Republic’s libero, Daniela Digrinová, also shared her thoughts on the tournament. She was pleased with her team’s performance, especially their win against the Dominican Republic. Despite the tournament’s outcome, she appreciated the opportunity to compete at such a high level. Looking forward, Digrinová expressed hope that the Czech Republic could advance to the VNL next year and accumulate enough points for the next Olympics.

(Reported by Boris CHUNG Bok Man)