Sardinia, Italy. October 9, 2021: Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes beat the reigning Olympic gold medalists, USA’s April Ross and Alix Klineman, today at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals in Cagliari, Sardinia.

The semi-final win puts the Canadian team in the gold-medal match on Sunday. In challenging rainy conditions, the score was 0-2 (15-21,12-21), and the contest included an early injury scare from Humana-Paredes, who rebounded nicely. Although Canada beat Ross and Klineman at the 2019 World Championship final, Canada has struggled against this pair in more recent matches.

"We are very happy,” Pavan told the post-match reporter. "We wanted to end this season making a final and we have an opportunity to win a gold medal. Playing in this environment, against the top teams in the world, is so exciting and to be able to put that kind of performance on the court is excellent."

The so-far unbeaten duo will face Germany’s Julia Sude and Karla Borger, who defeated Russia in three sets today, in Sunday’s final, which is scheduled for 2:30 pm ET.

In each gender, the 10 participating teams in the World Tour Finals were split into two single round-robin pools of five. The pool stage of the tournament was played from Wednesday through Friday. The pool winners advanced straight to today's semifinals, while each of the two pool runners-up will had to go against the third-placed team of the other pool in the quarterfinal games, also on Saturday. Sunday’s schedule includes the matches for the gold and bronze medals.

The five-day $800,000 US prize-money event is being held at the seaport of Cagliari on the island of Sardinia.

The team of Pavan and Humana-Paredes is Canada’s sole entry in the World Tour Finals.

Event web site:
https://en.volleyballworld.com/en/beachvolleyball/worldtour/2021/1029

In Canada, all matches are streamed live at www.cbcsports.ca

Photos: FIVB 

Volleyball Canada media contact:
Jackie Skender
Mobile: 613.794.7676