Pavan, Humana-Paredes oust Olympic beach volleyball champs in Tour Finals semi
CBC
The reigning world champions of women's beach volleyball are one win away from their first tournament title win of the season.
Toronto's Melissa Humana-Paredes overcame a left shoulder injury and teamed with Sarah Pavan of Kitchener, Ont., for a 21-15, 21-12 semifinal victory over 2020 Olympic champions April Ross and Alix Klineman of the United States at the FIVB World Tour Finals on Saturday in Italy.
The 44-minute match was the Canadian tandem's first win over Ross and Klineman since September 2019 and avenged a straight-sets loss to the American duo in the AVP Wilson Cup final in July in Long Beach, Calif.
Pavan and Humana-Paredes advance to Sunday's final at 2:30 p.m. ET in Sardinia against Germany's Julia Sude and Karla Borger, who defeated Russia's Nadezda Makroguzova and Svetlana Kholomina in three sets later Saturday.
WATCH | Canadians notch semifinal win in Sardinia:
Pavan and Humana-Paredes improved their tourney record to 5-0 and have lost only one set in the process.
"I think we are getting into a groove … so I'm excited about what's to come," Humana-Paredes told Volleyball World after beating Americans Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil two sets to one in their final pool match on Friday to improve to 4-0 and gain a bye to the semifinals.