Guezen, O’Dwyer headline Canadian Next Gen team

RICHMOND – Volleyball Canada has announced the Women’s Next Gen program athletes, who will be based in Richmond, BC, at the National Training Centre until mid-August.
 
Under the direction of Next Gen lead coach Matt Krueger and head coach Carolyn O’Dwyer, athletes will have access to coaching staff and an integrated support team to guide their development and growth as high-performance athletes. Competition opportunities include the 2024 Pan Am Final Six in the Dominican Republic June 24-30, and the 2024 Pan Am Cup in Mexico in August.

Alongside O’Dwyer, who just completed her first season as the head coach of Pandas Volleyball, first-year star Abby Guezen was also selected to represent Team Canada. 

Guezen was named the 2024 Canada West and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year. The Pandas Volleyball Club product finished her debut season with 184 kills, 122 digs, 27 blocks and 218.0 points. Her 2.97 kills per set ranked 10th in Canada West, which was far and away the best by any rookie in 2023/24.

This will be O’Dwyer’s third summer coaching the Canadian Next Gen team, doing so in 2022 and 2023 as the head coach of the Volleyball Canada National Excellence program. 
 
Guezen and O’Dwyer both played a large role in the Pandas’ eight-game improvement from the year before, before capturing a Canada West bronze medal, and U SPORTS silver medal. 

2024 Canada Next Gen Roster

SETTERS: 

Averie Allard, Winnipeg, MB
Bella Noble, Chester, NS

LIBEROS: 

Julia Arnold, Winnipeg, MB
Delaney Watson, St. Jacobs, ON

OUTSIDES/OPPOSITES:

Jasmine Rivest, Montreal, QC
Gabrielle Attieh. Surrey, BC
Abby Guezen, Sherwood Park, AB
Thana Fayad, Victoria, BC
Mady Saris, Burlington, ON
Emoni Bush, Campbell River, BC
Raya Surinx, Winnipeg, MB
Lucy Borowski, Vancouver, BC

MIDDLES: 

Kaylee Plouffe, Sherwood Park, AB
Nyadholi Thokbuom, Calgary, AB
Avery Heppell, Langley, BC
Emma Boyd, Whitehorse, YT
Jess Andrews, Guelph, ON
Grace Calnan, Dartmouth, NS