Newfound swagger leading Canadian men's volleyball team through Rio

By Nick Murray, CBC Sports

Canada has made an emphatic return to Olympic men's volleyball.

While Sunday's straight-sets win over fifth-ranked Team USA is largely being billed as a shocking upset, those within volleyball's inner circle say this is a Canadian team finally reaching its potential.

• SCHEDULE: Men's volleyball at Rio 2016

"I think [Sunday's win] is the perfect example of what belief can do," said former national team captain Charles Parkinson, who's also commentating for CBC during Rio 2016.

"It's an upset as far as the standings go, but from the point of view of inside volleyball, we knew Canada had come to play."

In those inner volleyball circles, few people believed Canada would have an indoor team in Rio.

The women's team's hopes were dashed at a qualifier in January in Edmonton, while the men faltered at the same tournament against teams they should have beaten.

It wasn't until a last-chance tournament in June where the men found a way, scratching out a five-set thriller over China to get in, and with it, ripping the proverbial monkey off their backs and qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in 24 years.

"Just getting to the Olympics is a massive accomplishment in and of itself. And for Canada, that has been the toughest part of this process," Parkinson said.

"But when they qualified in Japan, it changed this team. They believe now that they can actually do some damage here."

Fellow CBC analyst and former national team player Paul Duerden said the team has been underrated most of this year, largely by going five sets — and losing — against weaker teams during qualifying tournaments; teams that Canada should have blown out.

"You look at the top teams, they'll dip, but when they're rolling and playing their game they blow out those teams. Rarely do they go five sets, whereas we clawed our way throughout that entire tournament," Duerden said.

"There's no coach out there who'd want to play us, if we're playing well. That group on the floor is a dangerous team."

On a roll going into Rio

Since clinching its spot in the Olympics, Team Canada has been on an absolute tear, going 8-1 in the FIVB's World League en route to winning Group 2, meaning they'll be promoted to Group 1 next year.

But looking ahead to the rest of Canada's round-robin matches, the road gets harder and more hostile.

Canada's next match is against the hometown favourites and top-ranked Brazilians, in the infamous Maracanazinho — nicknamed in the volleyball world as the "Thunderdome."

"Ten at night, there, it's going to be a madhouse," said Duerden, who's played in the 11,000-seat arena, and notes Brazilian volleyball fans are among the most passionate in the world.

"It's awesome. It's going to be jammed and there are people going to be outside."

Brazil has won a medal in every major tournament since 2000 — including two silvers and a gold medal in the last three Olympics.

In comparison, Canada hasn't finished better than seventh in either the World Cup or world championships in that same time span — a fourth place at Los Angeles 1984 is its best Olympic placing.

But the key moving forward for Canada will be to keep its composure, and newfound confidence, in check.

"Our pool is the pool of death. It's so evenly split, but that can be a blessing in disguise," Duerden said.

"If they can win a couple matches, any crossover is going to be at the same level we've been playing at the whole tournament, and winnable."

Canada plays Brazil Tuesday at 9:35 p.m., ET. From there, it'll play France, Mexico and Italy to wrap up group-stage play.