There are two Canadian teams that have qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Beach Volleyball Championships in Rome, Italy. Both of the Canadian teams are on the women’s side as Sophie Bukovec and Brandie Wilkerson of Toronto, Ontario will hold down one spot, and Sarah Pavan of Kitchener, Ontario and Melissa Humana-Paredes of Toronto is occupying another.
In the round of 16 on Thursday, Bukovec and Wilkerson beat the German duo of Karla Borger of Julia Sude 19-21, 21-19, 15-10. Pavan and Humana-Paredes also needed three sets to reach the final eight, as they beat the Brazilian duo of Talita Antunes da Rocha and Rebecca Cavalcante Barbosa Silva 16-21, 21-11, 18-16. This was a nice victory for Pavan and Humana-Paredes, as they were up against the wall in the final set, and facing multiple match points before coming back to win the match.
Once again, Pavan and Humana-Paredes will face Brazilians in the quarterfinals. Their opponents are Duda Santos Lisboa and Ana Patricia Silva Ramos. Bukovec and Wilkerson will next face the Italian duo of Marta Menegatti and Valentina Gottardi.
Canada is in fact the only country with two teams that reached the women’s quarterfinals. The other quarterfinals have Sara Hughes and Kelley Kolinske of the United States facing Joana Heidrich and Anouk Verge-Depre of Switzerland, and Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar of Australia against Svenja Muller and Cinja Tillmann of Germany.
