NORCECA: Women's U18 Championships

The women's Youth National team is competing at the 2018 U18 NORCECA Continental Championships for a spot at the 2019 FIVB U18 World Championships next year in Egypt. 

It's been a long time since Canada has had a women's Junior or Youth program competing at the NORCECA level. It's a big first step when looking at the bigger of the women's National team - but for now we get a chance to look at some of the stars of tomorrow. There's one thing for sure - this is a very young team, with a roster made up of many athletes going into their 16U and 17U season's of club. 

Another interesting thing when looking at this team is the utter lack of national diversity on the roster. Of the 12 athletes dressing, only Vancouver's Katarina Pantovic comes from outside of Ontario. The other 11 athletes all come from just five clubs in Southern Ontario. 

It's pretty much impossible to put any expectations on a team competing Internationally for the first time - at a pool alongside powerhouses Cuba and Dominican Republic will be a big test for this young team. Despite the heavy pool - a Top 4 finish is definitely possible.  

Pools

Schedule

August 27th

🇨🇺Cuba def. 🇨🇦Canada | 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-20)

August 28th

🇩🇴Dominican Republic def. 🇨🇦Canada | 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19)

August 29th

🇨🇦Canada def. 🇨🇷Costa Rica | 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-13)

August 30th

Quarterfinals: 🇨🇦Canada def. 🇭🇳Honduras | 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-16)

August 31st

Semi-Finals: 🇨🇦Canada vs. 🇨🇺Cuba - 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Pool A

🇨🇦Canada

🇨🇺Cuba

🇩🇴Dominican Republic

🇨🇷Costa Rica

*Live stream pass can be purchased for $8 USD on Internet.tv

Pool B

🇺🇸United States

🇳🇮Nicaragua

🇭🇳Honduras

🇧🇧Barbados

Roster

• #1 Katerina Georgiadis (L) - Scarborough, ON | Scarborough Titans Volleyball Club
• #2 Katarina Pantovic (OH) - Vancouver, BC | UBC Thunderbirds
• #3 Phoenix Lee (S) - Oakville, ON | Halton Hurricanes Volleyball Club
• #4 Hannah Duchesneau (OP) - Sharon, ON | Storm Volleyball Club
• #6 Maya Cerantola (MB) - Oakville, ON | Halton Volleyball Club
• #7 Raekelle Powell (OH) - Scarborough, ON | Scarborough Titans
• #8 Lauren Pastor (S) - Toronto, ON | Pakmen Volleyball Club
• #9 Sasha Van Der Merwe (OP) - Guelph, ON | Halton Hurricanes Volleyball Club
• #10 Amanda Siksna (MB) - Markham, ON | Storm Volleyball Club
• #11 Emma McKinnon (OH) - Milton, ON | Halton Hurricanes Volleyball Club
• #14 Anna Smrek (MB) - Welland, ON | Defensa Volleyball Club
• #15 Madyson Saris (OH) - Burlington, ON | Defensa Volleyball Club