FIVB: Rough Start for Canadians in Fuzhou

Three teams up and three teams down at the first FIVB event of the year in Fuzhou, China. Qualification is never easy and luck was not with the red and white today as no teams qualified. 

Sam Pedlow (Barrie, On) and Grant O'Gorman (Toronto, On) were seed No. 1 in qualification but may have got the short end of the stick having to play 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Martins Plavins from Latvia and his new partner Hermans Egleskains. Pedlow/O'Gorman took the opening set 22-20, but the Latvians were stronger in the next two, forcing a third with a 15-21 win and taking the fifth 13-15. 

First timers on the FIVB Tour Sergey Grabovsky (Aurora, On) and Liam Kopp (Niagara, On) fought hard against the Czechs 18-21, 19-21. Also falling in the first round were Cam Wheelman (Barrie, On) and Mike Plantinga (Langley, BC) who fell 21-15, 17-21, 11-15 to Iran. 

For the men, Canada still has Binstock/Schachter who are ranked fourth in the Main Draw while the women get going tomorrow. 

For full Fuzhou Open coverage, check our our tournament page!