Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
FILE PHOTO Enlarge Image
Brandon’s Dustin Schneider (9) and his Canadian teammates celebrate an upset of Serbia in Trieste, Italy in September of 2010.
It’s been 20 years since Canada’s men’s volleyball team last qualified for the Summer Olympics.
It won’t be easy this year, either, but Brandon’s Dustin Schneider believes Canada has a legitimate shot at ending that drought next month.
"I think we have the best shot that the team has had in the last couple of cycles to qualify," Schneider said from the Team Canada training centre in Gatineau, Que. "I see us as a little bit of an underdog, but I think we have a chance."
Now in his fourth season with the national team since graduating from the University of Winnipeg in 2008, Schneider is continuing to recover from minor knee surgery in February and hopes to be up to speed by the time Canada heads to Long Beach, Cal., to compete in the eight-team NORCECA Men’s Continental Qualification Tournament from May 7-12.
"It was bothering me a little bit, but it wasn’t a major surgery or anything," said Schneider, who was forced to leave his professional team in France in December due to his lingering knee problems. "I’ve had a few setbacks, but I am hoping I will be healthy and everything holds up until the tournament, anyways. I’m not 100 per cent, but I have been practising for the last week or two here and it’s coming along well."
The tournament will be Canada’s last chance to qualify for the London Games, with only one spot up for grabs in a tournament that will feature the likes of world powerhouses Cuba and the United States, both top 10 teams that Canada — ranked 18th in the world — will have to upset.
"The U.S. and Cuba will be our main competition there," said Schneider, who is joined on the national team by veteran left-side hitter Toon Van Lankvelt of Rivers. "We have Cuba in our pool and they have lost some players actually in the last year, due to defecting and whatever else ... And we beat Cuba once last year and we beat Serbia and they were ranked No.3 in the world at that time, so we have beat some teams that are the best in the world."
Schneider has come a long way from his playing days at Vincent Massey High School to competing on the world stage. Ten years ago, he was just hoping to earn a university scholarship to continue playing the sport he loves, but has since developed into one of the best setters in the country.
"My thing in my high school was I just wanted to play in university and keep my playing days going," said Schneider, whose younger sister Hope will follow in his footsteps when she graduates from Crocus Plains this spring and plays volleyball for the Wesmen in the fall. "When I was at U of W, towards the end of my career is when I got on the track of it maybe being an opportunity for me in the future … and it has worked out for me."
While he is now a starter on the national team at age 27 and makes a living playing pro in Europe, competing in the Olympics remains his ultimate goal in the sport.
"To play in the Olympics would be wicked," Schneider said. "It’s the top stage as far as volleyball goes, so it would be great. It would be the dream, obviously, when you play a sport like this where there’s no premier trophy like in the NHL or something like that. To go to the Olympics is the ultimate goal for all of us in this sport."
NOTES: The last time Canada’s men’s volleyball team competed in the Summer Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona, the team featured Brandon University Bobcats men’s volleyball coach Russ Paddock of Oak River ... Former Bobcats standout Kevin Miller of Russell is a member of Canada’s Senior B team and is also training in Gatineau.
» jshewaga@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition April 26, 2012
We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.
You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.
Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.
The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
It’s been 20 years since Canada’s men’s volleyball team last qualified for the Summer Olympics.
It won’t be easy this year, either, but Brandon’s Dustin Schneider believes Canada has a legitimate shot at ending that drought next month.
Already subscribed? Login to view full article.
Not yet a subscriber? Click Here to Signup
It’s been 20 years since Canada’s men’s volleyball team last qualified for the Summer Olympics.
It won’t be easy this year, either, but Brandon’s Dustin Schneider believes Canada has a legitimate shot at ending that drought next month.
A subscription to the Brandon Sun Newspaper is required to view this article. Please update your user information if you are already a newspaper subscriber.
Most Popular
Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments
You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.