Rwanda junior volleyball national team lost their third game against Canada in Pool C match of FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship in the Turkish city of Izmir on Saturday. The American team started the match more organized in both defense as well as attack and the 3-0 score line did not flatter them against the inexperienced Paul Bitok’s side, which is only making their debut appearance at the highest level of the competition. Following defeats in the opening two matches against USA and Tunisia, Bitok’s young troops at least increased the points they won in first set 25-17. In second set, Rwanda did well at 3-3, 4-5, 6-6, 6-7, 8-7, 10-9, 11-10 and the African team continued to lead until 16-15, 17-15, 20-17, 22-19, 23-23, 25-25 before Canada upped their game to take the set 27-25. Third set Rwanda took a lead with and look like will have the set in the match but it was not easy for the debutants, who led 2-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, 7-3, 8-3, 11-8, 12-9, 14-11, 16-12, 16-14, 16-15, 20-20, 21-21, 22-21, 22-22, and Canada only led at 23-22, 24-22 and eventually sealed the set and the match 25-22. The third consecutive defeat means that Rwanda cannot reached the knockout stage of the competition but only fight for final ranking.
