Canadian women's volleyball team qualifies for Olympics for 1st time since 1996

The Canadian women's vollleyball team punched its ticket to the Olympics for the first time since 1996 on Saturday with a 3-1 win (25-15, 20-25, 25-23, 25-14) over the host Dominican Republic in the final match of the NORCECA Continental Qualifier in Santo Domingo.

Canada's Kiera Van Ryk and Alexa Gray led all scorers with 22 points apiece.

Canada won its first NORCECA women's continental championship on Wednesday after going 5-0 in the tournament.

The Canadian women's team finished tied for ninth at the Atlanta Games in 1996.