Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

canada games Manitoba v-ball sides go for gold, bronze

MEDALS are on the line this morning for Manitoba volleyballers at the Canada Summer Games in P.E.I.

The men's team, losers 3-0 to Ontario in Friday's semifinal, will play B.C. for the bronze.

Manitoba's women's team goes for the gold at 9:30 a.m. local time (7:30 a.m. CDT) against Ontario.

A straight-sets victory of 25-20, 25-22 and 25-13 over Nova Scotia sets the table for two unbeaten teams (Manitoba is 6-0, Ontario 5-0) to fight for gold.

"Against Ontario in the gold-medal match, well, they've won this a couple of times in a row, but if we play well, we've got a great shot," Manitoba coach Kevin Neufeld of Brandon said Friday night via phone. "We've put a lot of pressure on a couple of our young kids, but we've got some great older leaders and together they've all handled the emotional side of the game so well."

Manitoba played Ontario in a tune-up match in Calgary earlier this month, losing narrowly in the fifth set.

"They've got some good athletes, but their offence can be predictable," Neufeld said. "Our blockers could have a big impact on the game, at least we hope that's going to be the case."

Is the early start an issue?

"We've had a lot of practices this summer at 9:30 in the morning and we've spent a lot of time talking about this very thing," the coach said. "Our kids are excited; I think they'd be ready and play at 7 a.m. They'll be prepared because we've talked all along about being prepared for a gold-medal final whenever it is."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 29, 2009 D6

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