Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes & Brandie Wilkerson will take on Switzerland’s Tanja Huberli & Nina Brunner in one of the women’s Olympic beach volleyball tournament semifinals on Thursday. In the other, Brazil’s Ana Patricia Ramos & Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda) will face Australia’s Mariafe Artacho Del Solar & Taliqua Clancy. That means the four different continents will be represented in the deciding battles for the distribution of the Olympic medals.
In the first quarterfinal on Wednesday’s programme, fourth-seeded Melissa & Brandie outclassed young Spanish sensations Daniela Alvarez & Tania Moreno, seeded 18th, on the way to a 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) win. Improving to a 4-2 win-loss record at Paris 2024, the Canadian pair advanced to the semifinals.
The first set was very tight and competitive through 15-15. At that point, Melissa & Brandie broke away with four in a row and closed the set at 21-18 shortly after on a long serve by the opponents. Alvarez & Moreno were the first to break away in the second set, with four in a row for 8-5, but the Canadians reacted swiftly, and also with four in a row, gained a 10-9 lead. At 14-14 was the last time the score was tied. Melissa & Brandie took control and never let go until Melissa’s elegant hit closed the match at another 21-18.
Brandie led the way with 17 points, including three kill blocks. Melissa contributed another 13 points towards the victory. Moreno led the Spanish team with 15 points.