Canada nominates sitting volleyball squads for Toronto 2015

Men, women’s teams to contend for berth to Rio 2016 Parlympics. 07 May 2015

The Canadian women's sitting volleyball team.

ⒸPatrice Lapointe | Canadian Paralympic Committee

By Canadian Paralympic Committee

“We have a number of new athletes and we are hoping to have a good showing at the Parapan Am Games and contend for a berth in the 2016 Paralympic Games."

With the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in sight, the Canadian Paralympic Committee nominated their athletes for the men's and women's sitting volleyball teams for selection to the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, which is a direct qualifier for Rio.

The nominations came after a training camp and tournament last week in Montreal, Canada.

A total of 12 men and 10 women were named to the team, along with the head coaches: Ray Sewell for the men and Nicole Ban for the women.

The Canadian men's team took the bronze at the 2007 and 2011 Parapan Am Games, while this year’s event will be the first major appearance for the women.

In men's sitting volleyball, Canada needs to finish first or second to Brazil to gain a berth for the Paralympics; the Brazilians already have a spot locked up as hosts.

"Our team has made big improvements over the last couple years, and we are excited to prove that Canada continues to be competitive in the Pan Am zone,” Sewell said. “The addition of some younger athletes onto our team has given us a good balance of experience, youth and enthusiasm."

On the women's side, Canada needs to finish ahead of Cuba to qualify. Brazil is in as host and the USA automatically gained a berth by winning the gold medal at the world championships last year.

"This is the first time that there is a women's division for sitting volleyball in the Parapan Am Games and we are thrilled that it is taking place in Canada,” Ban said. “We have a number of new athletes and we are hoping to have a good showing at the Parapan Am Games and contend for a berth in the 2016 Paralympic Games."

The sitting volleyball squad is the second of 14 Canadian teams to be nominated by the Canadian Paralympic Committee for selection for Toronto 2015 (7-15 August). Canada is expected to send approximately 220 athletes to the Parapan Ams and has set a goal of finishing in the top three nations in the total medal count. Qualification is ongoing and the full team will be officially unveiled in July 2015.