The historic journey of Canadian women continues in beach volleyball.
Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson won their semifinal match against Switzerland’s Tanja Hüberli and Nina Brunner 14-21, 22-20, 15-12.
No women’s duo had ever reached the semi-finals before the Paris Games. Now the Canadians are assured of a silver or gold medal, as they play in the final on Friday.
The Swiss were alone on the court in the first set. More precise in the exchanges and more efficient in service, they had no trouble winning 21-14.
The Canadians came back with much more aplomb in the next set. Struggling at 13-15, they forced the tiebreaker, which they won 22-20 by taking advantage of two Swiss smashes hit off-line.
They continued their momentum in the final engagement, quickly building leads of 5-2 and 6-3, which the Swiss erased. At 10-10, Wilkerson nevertheless made a series of decisive actions, scoring a smash and two blocks that converted into points. Serving for the match at 14-12, the Maple Leaf duo scored the final point when their opponents sent the ball far off-line.
In the final, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson will face the winners of the match between Brazilians Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Eduarda Santos Lisboa and Australians Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy this Thursday afternoon.