Mathias Elser is a talented 20-year-old setter captaining the Canada team at the FIVB Volleyball U21 Men’s World Championship 2021. The 1.98m-tall playmaker, who plays university volleyball for the Trinity Western Spartans, was only 18 when he represented Canada at the 2019 edition of the U21 World Championship. Last month, in some unusual circumstances, he made his debut with the men’s national team of his country, earning continental silver at the 2021 NORCECA Volleyball Championship. He spoke about that and a lot else as he answered Volleyball World’s questions on the premises of the U21 World Championship in Sofia.
Men's U21 World Championship 2021
Mathias Elser aiming to be a positive influence
Q&A with Canada’s captain at U21 Men's World Championship
Published 06:50, 30 Sept 2021
![Canada](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/v58nyh48fvvk1qno9nn5.jpg)
![Captain Mathias Elser (right) celebrates with his teammates](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/gpuchkm8igmlg0tgvwlk.jpg)
Captain Mathias Elser (right) celebrates with his teammates
![MU 21 CAN vs RUS34](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/c1i0hmipg5dwbipgf4m3.jpg)
![Mathias Elser in the mixed zone](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/lkoipcbw5ie72rahaewq.jpg)
Mathias Elser in the mixed zone