Sherwood Park's Guezen helps Canada qualify for 2028 Olympics in volleyball
Canada's women's volleyball team clinched its first Olympic berth since 1996 with a four-game win over the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo.
Why it matters
An Alberta athlete from Sherwood Park helped secure Canada's first Olympic volleyball berth in nearly three decades.
Top-ranked Canada defeated host Dominican Republic 25-15, 20-25, 25-23, 25-14 on Saturday to win the NORCECA Continental Qualifier final, securing a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team, coached by Carolyn O'Dwyer, went undefeated at 5-0 through the qualifying tournament.
Sherwood Park, Alta., native Abby Guezen contributed four kills, nine digs and one ace in the championship match. It marks Canada's fourth Olympic appearance in women's volleyball and its first since the 1996 Atlanta Games, where the team tied for ninth.
The Olympic berth capped a strong stretch for the program. Earlier in the week, Canada won its first-ever NORCECA Continental Championship title by beating the United States, and in July the team reached the Volleyball Nations League Finals for the first time in its history.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.