Humana-Paredes, Wilkerson advance to Round of 16 at beach volleyball worlds
Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson are now the only Canadian duo still in contention at the beach volleyball worlds in Huamantla, Mexico.
The fourth-ranked Toronto duo downed World No. 26 Niina Ahtiainen and Taru Lahti-Liukkonen of Finland 2-0 (21-17, 21-17) in the Round of 32 on Wednesday to continue their unbeaten run and improve to 5-0 in the tournament.
Wilkerson scored 11 attack points and six block points. Humana-Paredes added 14, all coming from attack points.
Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson will face Switzerland’s Esmée Bobner and Zoe Verge-Depre, who go by Esmée and Zoé, in the Round of 16 on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET. The Canadians previously edged the 21st-ranked Swiss duo 2-0 in round robin play.
Earlier, Sarah Pavan of Kitchener, Ont., and Toronto’s Molly McBain lost 2-0 to second-ranked Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth of the U.S. The 60th-ranked Canadians went the distance in the first set, but ended up falling 23-21. The Americans took the second frame 21-12.
In the men’s competition, World No. 33 Sam Schachter of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Toronto’s Dan Dearing also fell 2-0 (21-16, 24-22) to tenth-ranked Thomas Hodges and Zachery Schubert of Australia.
Schachter and Dearing leave the competition with a 2-2 record. Pavan and McBain dropped to 2-3 on Wednesday.
WATCH l Full event replay: Pavan and McBain defeated in Round of 32:
Featured VideoWatch Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain take on Kirsten Nuss and Taryn Kloth of the United States in round of 32 action at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico.
WATCH l Full event replay: Schachter and Dearing ousted from beach volleyball worlds:
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Featured VideoWatch Canada’s Sam Schachter and Daniel Dearing take on Thomas Hodges and Zachery Schubert of Australia in round of 32 action at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Huamantla, Mexico.
