Underdogs? Who, us?
The Canadian men's volleyball team - ranked No. 18 in the world and with Victoria's Josh Howatson and Fred Winters starting - are two wins from qualifying for the 2012 London Summer Games. sa国际传媒 has not been to the Olympics in men's volleyball since Barcelona in 1992.
"We don't feel like underdogs. We feel confident in our system and believe we can win this," said Howatson, from Long Beach, California, where sa国际传媒 finished pool play 3-0 in the North American and Caribbean qualifier for London 2012.
The Canadians upset world No. 5 Cuba late Wednesday night to gain a bye into tonight's semifinals against the winner of Thursday's late-finishing quarter-final between Mexico and Puerto Rico. The semifinal winners advance to Saturday's final, with the winner of that stamping their ticket to London.
Winters, a powerful hitter out of Claremont Secondary, was a monster against Cuba with 16 points and going a perfect 15-for-15 attacking.
"That's like a 20-20-20 triple-double in basketball," said Howatson, a seamless setter out of Oak Bay High.
The host U.S. is the likely opponent in Saturday's final.
