Men's Volleyball | 7/3/2025 10:00:00 AM
York University Lions men's volleyball head coach Jordan Taylor will represent his country at a pair of international competitions this summer.
A year after being an assistant coach of the Canadian NORCECA Pan-American Cup team with the U17 boys team, the Lions bench boss will take the reins as head of the U19 boys squad in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He will the serve as assistant coach of Canadian team at the FIVB U19 World Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan later this summer.
Canada selected 28 athletes to compete at the championships, with 12 going to the NORCECA event, which runs from July 6-14, and 12 others going to the world championships. Four reserves were also selected for both events. The two teams began training together in Halifax on June 27, before Taylor and the NORCECA squad take off for Mexico on Friday. Following the championship, Taylor will meet the world championship team back in Halifax for camp prior to the tournament, which spans from July 24-August 3.
Taylor, who has a vast array of experience coaching provincially in his home province of Alberta where he won two provincial titles, says he's much more relaxed going into his second time around on the Canadian bench.
"Last summer, I wasn't sure what to expect, in terms of competition, style of play, the extensive travel, different types of food and hospitality, and overall grind over a multi week competition," he said. "Last year was a lot of firsts for me, so the mindset this year is to expect the unexpected and embrace all the challenges thrown our way. So much more goes into international competitions than the sport itself, so having last year's experience will certainly provide more comfort in a much more intensive summer, especially in a world championship year."
The Lions bench boss, who led the team to its best season in eight years in 2024 with a 15-5 mark, says he's extremely excited for the summer ahead.
"Mexico will be a great opportunity for me personally to have a bigger role and influence with that squad, so I am looking forward to that," he said. "As for the world championship squad, they get a full 6 weeks together, so it will be special to watch them grow and bond as a group and develop into the next wave of Canadian stars as we play against the best the world has to offer.
"It's an honor to be a part of that, and I can't wait to wear the Maple Leaf with pride."
Taylor's Canadian contingent will play in Group A of the NORCECA championship along with the United States, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. They will begin play on July 8 against Puerto Rico, before battling the U.S. on July 9 and closing group stage action with a tilt against the Venezuelans on July 10. The top team in each group will receive a bye to the semi-finals on July 12 while the second and third place teams advance to the quarters on July 12, where they will cross-over to determine the other two semi-finalists. Consolation and medal matches will be played on July 13.
The Canadian team has been slotted in Pool B at the FIVB World Championship, joining Algeria, Bulgaria, China, France and Japan. Each team will play every other team in its pool, with Canada opening up July 24 against the French. The top four in each pool will advance to the round of 16 beginning July 30. You can find the full tournament schedule by clicking here.
