Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson suffered their first defeat of the Olympic Games on Wednesday, falling 2-1 to Switzerland at Eiffel Tower Stadium.
The Toronto teammates clawed their way out of an early 1-0 deficit to force a tiebreaker with Switzerland but ultimately fell by scores of (18-21, 21-13, 11-15).
Favorites in Pool D, Canada struggled to get off the ground against the 16th-ranked Swiss, dropping its first set of the match 21-18.
Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson, who dominated Paraguay in the tournament opener, looked uncomfortable for Canada throughout the first frame but managed to stage a late comeback and close the gap to just three points despite ultimately falling behind in the match 1-0.
The Canadians jolted to a 9-4 lead over the Swiss in the second set, using a trio of aces to unravel their opponent and cruise to an eventual 21-13 set win to force a decisive third frame.
Canada managed to dig its way out of an early four-point hole in the early stages of the final set but could not escape the late life of Switzerland in a 15-11 defeat to drop to 1-1 in the tournament.
On the men’s side, Canadians Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing had no answer for the Brazilian powerhouse of Arthur and Evandro on Wednesday, suffering a straight-set defeat (21-13, 21-16) in Paris.
Rain appeared to merely delay Brazil’s procession over the male duo, combining for 24 attacking points throughout the match compared to Canada’s 21.
The loss sends Schachter and Dearing into last place in Pool E, setting up a must-win match against Austria on Friday.
Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson will play Latvia, ranked ninth in the world, in their final match in Pool play. A win will seal the deal on a round of 16 berth for Canada while a loss will require Canada to have one of the two best records amongst third-place teams across all six Pools.
In a surprising turn of events, Canadian beach volleyball duo Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes suffered their first loss in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals in Paris. The pair, who have been dominating the competition this season, were defeated by Swiss opponents Joana Heidrich and Anouk Vergé-Dépré in a thrilling match.
Humana-Paredes and her partner Brandie Wilkerson had been on a winning streak leading up to the match, with impressive victories in previous rounds. However, the Swiss team proved to be a formidable opponent, showcasing their skills and determination on the sand.
The match was closely contested, with both teams fighting hard for every point. In the end, Heidrich and Vergé-Dépré emerged victorious, winning in straight sets with scores of 21-19, 21-18.
Despite the loss, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson remain optimistic and determined to bounce back in their next matches. They have shown resilience and strength throughout the season, and will no doubt use this defeat as motivation to come back stronger in future competitions.
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals in Paris has been an exciting event, with top teams from around the world competing for the title. The competition is fierce, and every match is a test of skill, strategy, and mental toughness.
As the tournament continues, fans can expect more thrilling matches and surprises as the best beach volleyball teams in the world battle it out for supremacy. Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson may have faced their first loss in Paris, but they are sure to come back fighting in their quest for victory.