Canada qualifies for LA 2028 in women’s volleyball
Canada’s women’s volleyball team has qualified for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, ending a 32-year absence. They secured their spot with a 3-1 victory over the Dominican Republic at the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament. Key players Kiera Van Ryk and Alexa Gray each scored 22 points in the decisive match.
Photo: Team Canada
Canada is heading back to the Olympic Games in women’s volleyball. The Canadian women secured their place at Los Angeles 2028 with a 3-1 victory over the Dominican Republic on Saturday at the NORCECA Women’s Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Canada won 25-15, 20-25, 25-23, 25-14 at the Prof. Ricardo Gioriver Arias Volleyball Palace, completing a successful qualification tournament and ending a 32-year absence from Olympic competition.
The program’s last Olympic appearance came at Atlanta 1996, where Canada finished tied for ninth.
Van Ryk and Gray lead Canada
Kiera Van Ryk and Alexa Gray shared the scoring lead with 22 points each as Canada overcame the loss of the second set to take control of the match.
The Canadians held a significant advantage in attack points, 56-40, and also edged the Dominican Republic 8-7 in blocks.
After splitting the opening two sets, Canada survived a tight third, 25-23, before closing the match decisively with a 25-14 fourth set.
The victory came one day after Canada opened the tournament by sweeping Puerto Rico 25-16, 25-22, 25-10.
Canada controlled that match across several areas, finishing with advantages in attacks (42-32), blocks (12-2) and aces (4-2). Puerto Rico later lost in straight sets to Cuba, which finished third.
Historic run continues for Canadian women
Olympic qualification adds another major result to a breakthrough period for the Canadian program.
Canada entered the qualifier after winning its first NORCECA Women’s Continental Volleyball Championship gold medal in 2026.
The Canadians went undefeated at 5-0 during that tournament and defeated the United States in five sets in the final, winning 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 18-25, 15-10.
It was Canada’s 14th medal at the continental championship, adding a first gold to two silver and 11 bronze medals.
Now, the program has another milestone. More than three decades after its last Olympic appearance in Atlanta, Canada will return to women’s volleyball’s Olympic tournament at Los Angeles 2028.
