The reigning champions, Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson, secured two wins on Thursday at the Montreal Elite event on the FIVB Beach Pro Tour.
The pair from Toronto triumphed over Brazil’s Carolina Horta and Ana Patricia Ramos with a score of 21-12, 21-12 in their first match, followed by a 21-13, 21-16 victory against the Lithuanian team of Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte.
Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson are aiming for their third consecutive title after clinching victories in 2023 and 2025.
Olympic silver medalist Melissa Humana-Paredes discusses Canada’s journey to LA 2028, competing on home ground in Montreal, and the advancement of women’s sports with Donnovan Bennett.
There was no event held in Montreal in 2024, during which Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson reached the gold-medal match in beach volleyball at the Paris Olympics, ultimately falling to Ramos and her partner Eduarda (Duda) Lisboa.
On Thursday, the Toronto pair gained some revenge, outpacing the Brazilians with 26-18 in attack points and 8-1 in service points.
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In the men’s competition, Lea Monkhouse from Mississauga, Ont., and local favorite Marie-Alex Belanger from Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Que., faced Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova from Latvia, losing 21-15, 21-15.
On the men’s side, Samuel Schachter from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Jonathan Pickett from Wiarton, Ont., managed to win one and lose one of their matches, while Cameron Chadwick from Barrie, Ont., and Steven Abrams from Georgetown, Ont., lost both of their matches.
The tournament will continue until Sunday at Parc Jean-Drapeau.