April 15, 2024: The Canadian pair of Heather Bansley and Sophie Bukovec won the bronze medal at the Beach Pro Tour Guadalajara Challenge in Mexico yesterday.

Bansley and Bukovec, who entered the main draw via Thursday’s qualifiers, bounced back from their narrow tie-break semifinal loss (21-18, 18-21, 20-18) to Switzerland yesterday to post a 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) victory over Germany’s Karla Borger & Sandra Ittlinger in the bronze-medal match. This was the team’s third Beach Pro Tour medal, after the Halifax Futures gold in September and the Recife Challenge (Brazil) silver in March.

"It has been a hot week and we’ve been battling," said Bansley in the post-match interview. "It was a heartbreak loss in the semis, so I’m really proud of the way Sophie and I came out in the bronze match and won, which turned the day around for us."

Switzerland’s Esmee Bobner and Zoé Vergé-Depré won the gold medal, and Agatha Bednarczuk and Rebecca Cavalcanti of Brazil took the silver.

Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain finished 19th at this event; on the men’s side, Jake MacNeil and Alex Russell did not qualify for the main draw.

USA’s Trevor Crabb & Theo Brunner won the men’s gold.

The Beach Pro Tour continues this week with an Elite 16 in Tepic, Mexico, that runs from April 17 to 21. 

Beach Pro Tour site: 
https://en.volleyballworld.com/beachvolleyball/competitions/beach-pro-tour/

Photo: Beach Volleyball World

Volleyball Canada Media contact:
Jackie Skender
Mobile: 1.613.794.7676