Another sweep for Team Canada at World Volleyball

Saskatoon volleyball star Gavin Schmitt dominated as Canada played against China Saturday afternoon FIVB World Volleyball action.

Canada swept the Chinese 3-0 in front of 2,436 at SaskTel Centre.

Canada won 25-21, 25-19, and 25-17.

“We’re on a roll,” said Schmitt. “I’m pretty happy with that because we’ve been using some different players; it shows how deep our team really is.”

He led the red and white with 16 points, followed by John Perrin with 16, and the captain Frederic Winters with nine.

“I wasn’t too happy with our play at the start,” said Canada head coach Glenn Hoag. “Gavin hasn’t played since Japan (two weeks ago) so it took him a little time to get going, but he didn’t disappoint.”

The crowd was a little more enthusiastic on day two when Schmitt was called out as a starter.

“When they announce your name and you have the whole stadium going nuts, it’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “The crowd was way more energetic and we got to keep that up, my family even brought a bunch of horns.”

Hoag calls Schmitt a special player for them.

“We know what Gavin has had to go through to come back from his injury (stress fracture in his right leg),” he said. “He deserves all the fan support he’s been getting in his hometown.”

On Friday Canada swept Korea 3-0. They’re 2-1 so far at the tournament this weekend.

These matches are one of the last tune up’s before the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August.

“This is a building tournament,” said Schmitt. “Playing matches against high-end teams that will see in Rio is way better than just training in a gym for two months.”

Canada takes on Portugal Sunday night at 6:05 p.m.