Canada to play for gold at the Vienna Major in Austria

VIENNA, Austria, August 3, 2019:  Canada’s 2019 World Champions Melissa Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan won their semi-final on Saturday at the A1 Major Vienna 2-0 (21-17, 21-12) over Brazil’s Agatha Bednarczuk and Duda Lisboa.

"It was a very efficient match by us,” said Humana-Paredes. "That team is very strong so we knew we had to play our best game and we did most of that today. A very clean sideout, a lot of good defensive chances and it all stems from our serving. We put them in passing trouble and we were able to play the kind of defense we wanted and make the plays we did and that’s what happens when we play well."

Agatha and Duda went on to win the bronze medal today 2-0 over Talita Antunes/Taiana Lima, also of Brazil.

"Everything came together well today, they are a tough team so we are delighted to win and thrilled to be in the final,” Pavan said. 

"We’ve had a long time on the road traveling and we said that we wanted to win this tournament. We have never won a medal in Vienna so now we have – and we want it to be gold but it’s not going to be easy." 

The duo will face another Brazilian team in the final for the gold medal, taking on Maria Antonelli and Carol Solberg after they beat fellow Brazilians Talita and Taiana in the previous semi-final.  Brazil has four women’s teams in the top ten of the beach volleyball world ranking.

Originally scheduled for today, the gold medal match is delayed due to weather. The match will be played on Sunday.