After dismantling one of the world’s toughest defenses, Canada team captain Nicholas Hoag believes his squad now carries the momentum to scale even greater heights in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
The Maple Leafs delivered a commanding statement on Monday, sweeping Japan in straight sets, 25-20, 25-23, 25-22, to shatter the home crowd’s hopes and secure a spot in the next phase at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We were patient. We played a very physical game, which was very important. The Japanese team is probably the best defensive team in the world,” said the 33-year-old outside hitter from Quebec.
“Even today, we saw they had great defense, so we kept playing powerfully but also mixed in some finesse. We contained their big servers, and I think that’s how we won.”
Hoag has long believed that Canada has the tools to become a perennial contender on the world stage. With consistency finally showing in their performances, he feels the timing is just right.
“We always try to beat the best teams in the world. We have the potential to do it; we just need the consistency. You saw it today against one of the top teams — we beat them 3-0 even though Japan played well. We can do something special,” he said.
Playing amid a roaring Filipino crowd, the Canadians showed nerves of steel against the fan favorites, keeping their composure until the very end to seal a momentum-boosting win.
“On the court, it felt very calm. Despite all the noise and everyone cheering for Japan, it’s fun. It’s fun to play in an environment like that. But I didn’t feel like we were stressed or anything,” said the two-time NORCECA MVP.
Sharone Vernon-Evans spearheaded the victory with 14 points, while Hoag added 13 markers to keep the offense balanced.
“We were very calm and collected. We applied the game plan from start to finish, and it worked. Despite the young age of many of the guys on the team, it shows a lot of maturity,” Hoag noted.
That composure, he added, will be vital as Canada prepares to face a dangerous Türkiye squad in the next stage.
“We’re gonna have to handle their serves because they have one of the best servers in the tournament, Effe. That’s going to be a battle. If we win the service-receive battle, I think we have a real shot at beating Turkey and finishing on top of the pool.”
#WATCH: Nicholas Hoag is confident Canada can beat the world’s best — consistency is key 🇨🇦🏐
📹 Jonash Dannug/Tiebreaker Times#MWCH2025 pic.twitter.com/P4ZVpqWk47
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 15, 2025
