Release Canada's Schmitt to Switch to Sand



April 01, 2016: One of Canadaâ€™s top menâ€™s indoor volleyball players has decided to make the move to the National Beach Volleyball Program.



"Two surgeries and rehab has taken its toll. Indoor volleyball is very hard on the body," said Gavin Schmitt, 30, a Saskatoon native. "Iâ€™ve always enjoyed beach, so this is a great opportunity. I will definitely miss the amazing guys Iâ€™ve had the honour of playing with over the years, but I am excited about a new challenge. Thanks to Glenn Hoag and all of the coaching staff for all their hard work and efforts over the years."



Schmitt, who has played professionally in Korea, Russia, Turkey and Brazil, is known as a six-foot-ten offensive powerhouse. He was part of the bronze medal Pan Am Games team in 2015, and helped Canada to two seventh-place finishes at both the World Championship in 2014 and the World Cup in 2015.



Schmitt underwent a second surgery on his leg early this year, and has been working with a rehab team in Vancouver to prepare for the 2016 international season. However, after a meeting with his medical team, the decision was made to skip all major indoor tournaments this year. Heâ€™s looking forward to finding a compatible beach partner as soon as possible.



Schmitt will join the team for World League promotional activities in Saskatoon in June. â€œSaskatoon is a great volleyball town, I canâ€™t wait!â€



Steve Anderson, Canadaâ€™s National beach volleyball head coach, believes that â€œfour or five years of beachâ€ would be beneficial for Gavin and the program.



Canadaâ€™s menâ€™s coach Glenn Hoag, currently coaching in Turkey, was not immediately available for comment. More to come on this developing story.

Volleyball Canada media contact:

Jackie Skender

E-mail: jskender@volleyball.ca

Phone: 613.794.7676



Photo: Kevin Light