June 20, 2025. – Canada delivered one of its strongest performances so far in the 2025 Women’s VNL, but couldn’t overcome Brazil’s powerful blocking game, falling 0-3 (20-25, 23-25, 23-25) in a tightly contested match at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem Dome, with over 2,000 spectators in attendance.
Despite the straight-set loss, Giovanni Guidetti’s squad showed character, tactical discipline, and organized defense, staying close throughout the match, particularly in the second and third sets, where they came close to leveling.
The standout for Canada was 19-year-old Abagayle Guezen, who came off the bench in the first set and led the offense with 13 points, all from kills. Middle blocker Nyadholi Thokbuom also impressed with a 75% attack efficiency, scoring 12 points that included two blocks and an ace.
“I’m very happy to see the team improving every day,” said head coach Giovanni Guidetti.
“Today we had a real chance to win two sets against Brazil. That shows we’re competing at their level, which is a very positive sign. We need to finish sets better, but the progress is clear and that keeps us motivated,” he added.
Despite Canada’s strong showing, Brazil’s blocking superiority made the difference. Julia Kudiess led the way with 8 blocks and totaled 16 points. In contrast, the Canadian side managed only 4 blocks throughout the match, a gap that proved crucial in key moments.
With this loss, Canada drops to 15th in the standings with a 2-5 record (5 points), but the performance proved they can compete head-to-head with the world’s top teams. The team now looks to build on this momentum in the upcoming VNL matches.
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