Swift Current’s Braedon Friesen won bronze with Canada’s Junior National Volleyball Team at the NORCECA U21 Men’s Continental Championship in Havana, Cuba.
Canada placed second in Group B with a 2-1 record. They defeated Haiti in straight sets (25-14, 25-17, 25-18) on Monday.
Canada moved to 2-0 with another straight sets (25-16, 25-20, 25-15) victory over Nicaragua on Tuesday.
They hit their first road bump on Wednesday in a 3-1 loss to the United States (14-25, 25-23, 23-25, 24-26). Friesen recorded two kill blocks and had four services aces in the win. He also tied for the team lead with four excellent receptions.
Canada took on Barbados in the quarter-final and won in straight sets (25-13, 25-14, 25-20).
Canada fell in four sets (25-21, 21-25, 18-25, 18-25) to the host Cubans on Friday in the semi-final.
Canada rebounded Saturday to defeat the Americans in four sets (25-22, 25-23, 25-27, 25-17) to win bronze.
Friesen will now join the University of Alberta Golden Bears for his rookie season after leading the Swift Current Comp. Colts to a 5A Provincial Championship last November.
