Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson of Toronto, Ontario, are in the semifinals of the women’s Olympic beach volleyball tournament. On Wednesday, Canada defeated Daniela Alvarez Mendoza and Tania Moreno Mateeva of Spain 21-18, 21-18 in the third of four quarterfinal matches of the tournament.
Wilkerson scored 17 points for Canada in the quarterfinals, while Humana-Paredes scored 13. Wilkerson scored 14 of her 17 points on attack shots, while Humana-Paredes scored all 13 of her points on attack shots.
In the semifinals, Canada will face Switzerland, specifically the Swiss duo Nina Brunner and Tanja Huberli. In pool play, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson faced another Swiss women’s beach volleyball team, but lost to Esmee Bobner and Zoe Verge-Depre 21-18, 13-21, 15-11. On Tuesday, Brunner and Huberli defeated the American duo Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng 21-18, 2-19 in the quarterfinals.
Like Brunner and Huberli, the Canadians defeated an American team in the playoffs. In the round of 16, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson defeated the second-ranked team in the world, Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth, 21-19, 21-18.
The other semifinal will be between Brazil and Australia. Brazil will be represented by Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Duda Santos Lisboa. Australia will be represented by Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy. Australia defeated Switzerland’s Esmee Bobner and Zoe Verge-Depre 21-19, 16-21 and 15-12 in the quarterfinals, while Brazil defeated Latvia’s Tina Laura Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova 21-16 and 21-10 in the quarterfinals. The semifinals will take place on Thursday, with the medal matches on Friday.
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