Team Canada has won its first game of the 2025 World Men’s Volleyball Championships in Quezon City, Philippines. On Friday (Saturday in the Philippines), Canada defeated Libya by a score of 22-25, 25-20, 25-12, 29-27.
Opposite spiker Sharone Vernon-Evans of Scarborough, Ontario (who now just goes by the name of Sho), led Team Canada with 22 points (16 attack shots, three blocked shots and three aces). Four more Canadians reached double digits in points. Outside hitter and Canadian captain Glen Hoag of Sherbrooke, Quebec had 20 points (15 attack shots, four aces and one blocked shot), middle blocker Daenan Gyimah of Scarborough, Ontario had 12 points (seven attack points, four blocked shots and one ace), middle blocker Fynn McCarthy of Kelowna, British Columbia had 12 points (six aces, four attack points and two blocked shots), and outside hitter Jackson Young of Etobicoke, Ontario had 10 points (seven attack points, two blocked shots and one ace). It was Young who came up with clutch shot making in a tight fourth set.
Up next for Canada is Japan at 12am MT on Monday morning. Canada then plays Turkey to complete Pool G on Wednesday morning at 12am MT. In other Pool G action on Saturday, Turkey swept Japan in three sets by a score of 25-19, 25-23, 25-19.