Kiera Van Ryk played a crucial role for Canada’s national team during the 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL). After skipping most of the 2025 season to focus on her health, the 27-year-old opposite hitter returned in peak form. 
Her offensive explosion carried Canada to a historic milestone: their first-ever qualification for the VNL Finals in Macau.
Throughout the preliminary phase, Van Ryk was virtually unstoppable. She dominated the tournament, finishing as the top scorer with 271 points and the best attacker with 226 kills, averaging an incredible 22.5 points per match. 
She also surpassed the legendary milestone of 1,000 career VNL points, while adding 24 aces and 21 blocks to her stellar campaign.
Her masterclasses led Canada to a 5th-place finish in the group stage with an 8-4 record. Key moments included a 28-point performance against Japan, a 27-point display to take down China in five sets, and a decisive victory over the Dominican Republic to officially lock in Canada's ticket to Macau.
At the Finals inside the Macau East Asian Games Dome, Canada faced a tough quarterfinal matchup against Türkiye. Van Ryk fought valiantly, exploding for 27 points (22 kills, 4 aces, 1 block).
While Canada ultimately fell 3-1 to the eventual tournament champions, Van Ryk was individually honored as the best scorer and best attacker of the VNL 2026 Dream Team.
Following this historic international run, she is locked in as one of the top opposites to watch for the 2026/2027 season. 
Van Ryk is set to compete on the biggest club stages in the world with her new team, Savino Del Bene Scandicci, making her a major threat in both the Italian Serie A and the CEV Champions League.
Photos: Volleyball Canada