World number one Canada had a successful start to the Paralympic Games sitting volleyball compeitition on Thursday, defeating sixth ranked Slovenia in straight sets (25-11, 25-21, 25-12) at North Paris Arena.
Team captain Danielle Ellis (White Rock, B.C.) and Jennifer Oakes (Calgary, Alta.) led the Canadians in scoring with 14 points apiece. Heidi Peters (Neerlandia, Alta.) scored 10 including a team high eight service points.
Klara Vrabic led Slovenia with eight points and Suzana Ocepek had three of their four points off serves.
Canada started strong, getting out to a 9-2 lead with two aces by Peters and skillful blocking at the net by Ellis. Peters finished the set with four total service points and Oakes dominated with seven on the attack.
After going down early in the second set, Slovenia fought back, bringing the score to 14-12. However, this was as close as they would get, and Canada quickly surged back ahead.
The Canucks controlled the ball well at the net throughout – leading Slovenia in setting 20-12 – and the quality of the sets allowed Ellis, Oakes, and Sarah Melenka (Vegreville, Alta.) to put their powerful spiking ability on display.
Melenka shone in her Paralympic debut, scoring eight points, five attacking and three on blocks.
A powerhouse stocked full of veteran talent; the Canadians have also been infused with some youth.
Seven members of the team – Ellis, Peters, Oakes, Angelena Dolezar (St. Albert, Alta.), Jolan Wong (Vermilion, Alta.), Katelyn Wright (Edmonton), and Felicia Voss-Shafiq (Burnaby, B.C.) – are making their third Paralympic appearance.
They are joined by three players making their debuts, Melenka, Allison Lang (Edmonton, Alta.), and Jennifer McCreesh (Smithers, B.C.).
Anne Fergusson (Carleton Place, Ont.) and Julie Kozun (Melfort, Sask.) are at their second Games.
Canada achieved a best-ever fourth place finish in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, losing in the bronze medal match to rivals Brazil.
They ascended to the number one ranking throughout the shortened quad leading up to Paris with silver medals at the 2022 world championships and 2023 Para volley world cup.
Canada takes on its primary competition, world number two Brazil, on Saturday at 2 p.m. In their most recent meeting at the Dutch tournament in Assen, Netherlands, the Canadians triumphed in a five-set final, winning the gold medal.
It will be the second preliminary game of the tournament for both teams.
