Canada’s first-ever women’s VNL team announced

April 29, 2021: Volleyball Canada’s women’s head coach Shannon Winzer has announced the team that will represent Canada in the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, which will be held in a “bubble” format in Italy beginning on May 25.

Carrying on from the successful 2018 and 2019 competitions, 2021 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) continues in the same format of 12 core teams and four challenger teams per gender with each team playing against every other – though in view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic all matches of both genders will be played in the Italian city of Rimini.

The women’s core teams include Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey and USA. The challenger teams are Belgium, the Dominican Republic and Poland, plus Canada who won the latest FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup to replace Bulgaria who were relegated in 2019.

The 2021 VNL is set to start on May 25 for the women and May 28 for the men with the preliminary round completed on June 20 for the women and June 23 for the men (Canada’s team is TBA). The 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Note: Canadian broadcast details TBA.

Jennifer Cross (Captain), Scarborough, ON
Parker Austin, Edmonton, AB
Cassie Bujan, Winnipeg, MB
Alexa Gray, Calgary, AB
Hilary Howe, Calgary, AB
Shainah Joseph, Ottawa, ON
Brie King, Surrey, BC
Caroline Livingston, Kelowna, BC
Emily Maglio, Coquitlam, BC
Andrea Mitrovic, Mississauga, ON
Alicia Ogoms, Winnipeg, MB
Kim Robitaille, Repentigny, QC
Dani Smith, Beaverlodge, AB
Kennedy Snape, Kelowna, BC
Layne Van Buskirk, Windsor, ON
Jazmine White, Oshawa, ON
Kiera Van Ryk, Surrey, BC

Travelling Staff:

Shannon Winzer- Head Coach
Lauren Bertolacci- Assistant Coach
Vincenzo Mallia- Assistant Coach
Pablo Sanchez- Scout
Tavis Bruce – Team Lead & Strength and Conditioning
Fraser Perry – Physiotherapist
Hilary Mallinger – Physiotherapist & Covid Hygiene Officer

Canada-based support staff:

Dr Sara Forsyth – Chief Medical Officer
Dr Anne Muscat – Mental Performance Coach
Ashlen Leonard – Dietician
Kevin Duquette – Team Coordinator

Media contact: Jackie Skender