Kaden Schmidt’s top scoring efforts were finally rewarded with a win at the 2023 FIVB Volleyball U19 Men’s World Championship, as Canada beat India 3-1 (18-25, 29-27, 25-20, 25-22) on Sunday at Isa Sport Hall in Manama, Bahrain.

Schmidt, who scored 17 against Bulgaria and 13 against Poland, gave a glimpse of his ability to produce bigger numbers as he logged 18 attacks, three blocks and two aces, guiding Canada to its first win in the tournament.

“This tournament has been amazing. Getting our first win today was phenomenal. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play here. Yesterday we faced Poland and then Bulgaria – two high-level teams with star players. It’s really good to get that opportunity to play with many great players,” Schmidt said.

The Mississauga native is currently a second-year student-athlete at Trinity Western University in British Columbia.

He got into the sport through close friends and later joined a volleyball club, where he honed his skills.

“I got started playing volleyball when I was eight years old. I got introduced to the sport by my two family friends, Emma and Kaylee Glagau, who are both beach volleyball national team players,” he recounted.

“I played six years at Pakmen Volleyball Club in Mississauga. I played there through my youth – in the U13 and U18 teams. They really helped me nurture into becoming the player I am today. I am forever grateful to them.”

He used to be a dual-discipline athlete of volleyball, who represented Canada in beach volleyball at age-group World Championship.

“I’ve represented Canada also in beach volleyball at the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships in Phuket in 2021. I also played at the U21 Pan American Cup this year. Those experiences really helped prepare me for these World Championship,” he said.

“I don’t play beach volleyball anymore, I only got to play that tournament at that time when I was 17 years old. My partner then was Daniil Hershtynovic, who is a really good friend, and it was a big transition. You’ve got to take from both indoor and beach, for me personally, to be the best player you can be.”

But for now, his focus is on volleyball, and he hopes that he could be at the Olympics someday.

“As a kid, I always watched the Olympics. That’s my dream and that’s my goal to make it to that stage one day. It’s my goal to play for the senior team. Right now, I’m on the U21 team, it’s very hard to get from the level that we are to the ‘Next Gen’ team and then to the A team. I aspire to move up to those higher levels of the national team, so I will work for that. I won’t stop,” the young outside hitter said.

“I think to get there, the biggest thing for me is consistency. Where I play at Trinity Western, in my first year I had the opportunity to play with amazing players who are on the senior team right now. They include Mathias and Jesse Elser and Brodie Hofer. This past year I’ve taken a lot of lessons from them, practicing with every day and just learning a lot.”

2023 FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship: Full Schedule

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