Team Canada Beach Volleyball Update

Big news in the beach volleyball world for Canada’s very own Melissa Humana-Paredes, Sarah Pavan, Dan Dearing and Sam Schachter who have been selected to represent Team Canada in beach volleyball in the Commonwealth Games taking place July 28 to August 8, 2022, in Birmingham, England. 

“I am really excited to return to compete in the Commonwealth Games, especially after having won the inaugural beach volleyball event in Gold Coast 2018,” said Pavan, whose team went on to win the 2019 World Championship and finish fifth at the 2020 Olympic Games. “It is great that we will have the chance to defend our title and to represent Canada in such a fun and unique multi-sport games environment.” 

Pavan and Humana just recently finished fifth at the World Championship in Rome and brought home a gold medal on the Beach tour in Latvia. 

Over on the Men’s side, this will be Dan Dearing’s first Commonwealth games, but his partner Sam Schachter earned a silver medal in the 2018 games. 

“There will be a lot of pressure having already won a medal at the Gold Coast Games, but this year we are looking to improve on the silver and compete to bring home the gold for Canada,” said Schachter. 

The 2022 commonwealth games mark only the second time beach volleyball has been included. And in addition, for the first time in history, the games will feature more medal events for women (135) than for men (133)

And over to Gstaad, Switzerland the Elite 16 tournament kicked off July 6th and the top teams in the world will be battling on the sand. Our Canadian Women’s teams are already making waves. 

Brandie/ Bukovek went 0:2 against Ittlinger/Schneider of Germany in pool C 

Megan/Nicole fell short 0:2 to Germany’s Borger/ Sude in pool D

Pavan/Melissa won 0:2 over Italy’s Bianchi/Scampoli in pool C

The tournament will take place over the next five days and culminate in the finals on Saturday and Sunday.