Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson advanced to the quarterfinals of the Montreal Elite beach volleyball pro tour event on Friday after defeating Brazil’s Thamela Coradello and Victoria Lopes with a score of 21-13, 21-18. The Toronto-based Olympic silver medallists now lead Pool A with a perfect 3-0 record.
Wilkerson expressed satisfaction with their performance, highlighting their clear pre-game strategy, adaptability, and communication on the court. She emphasized the importance of trust in their defensive skills and overall teamwork, stating, “Our focus for the weekend is simply to fight and give our best.”
On the other hand, Lea Monkhouse from Mississauga, Ont., and Marie-Alex Belanger from Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Que., faced setbacks as they dropped two matches, landing at a 0-3 standing in the tournament.
In the men’s competition, Sam Schachter of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Jonny Pickett of Wiarton, Ont., suffered a 21-13, 23-21 defeat against Brazil’s Andre Loyola Stein and Renato Lima. Despite the loss, the Canadian duo secured a spot in the playoffs with a 1-2 record.
Meanwhile, Steve Abrams from Georgetown, Ont., and Cameron Chadwick from Barrie, Ont., struggled as they fell to Americans Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh with a close score of 21-23, 21-18, 15-12, leaving them at a 0-3 standing.
The competition will continue until Sunday at Parc Jean-Drapeau, offering more thrilling matchups for fans and players alike.