Pavan, Humana-Paredes rally past fellow Canadians at FIVB World Tour event

The reigning world champions also prevailed 2-0 in the quarter-finals on Monday at the first of three events FIVB, volleyball’s world governing body, arranged in a hub environment in Cancun. The world’s top-ranked tandem went on to win a second straight silver medal on Tuesday to open the season.

On Saturday, Bansley and Wilkerson won five consecutive points to go up 17-12 in the second set, only to have Pavan and Humana-Paredes draw even at 19-19 when Wilkerson touched the ball as it appeared to be headed out of bounds.

WATCH | Pavan, Humana-Paredes now 3-0 in 2021 vs. fellow Canadians:

Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes captured a pool play victory over fellow Canadians Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson 21-19, 24-22 at the FIVB beach volleyball world tour event in Cancun, Mexico Saturday. 0:26

Pavan and Humana-Paredes ended the match after Wilkerson served long.

Handling call, missed serve hurt

Trailing 20-18 in the opening set, Bansley and Wilkerson closed to within a point before Wilkerson’s serve sailed out of bounds to end the game.

On Monday, Bansley and Wilkerson closed to within a point at 15-14 and later 18-17 in the second set before the former’s ace tied the set 19-19. After Pavan and Humana-Paredes went up 20-19 on a handling call to Bansley, she evened matters with a kill.

Pavan and Humana-Paredes took the match following a missed serve by Wilkerson and a Humana-Paredes ace, with the ball landing on the line.

On their way to the podium, they fought back from a first-set loss to Bansley and Wilkerson to prevail 21-18 and 15-9.

Bansley and Wilkerson saw their record fall to 1-1 in the second Cancun competition after they opened with a 2-0 victory over Americans Brooke Sweat and Kerri Walsh Jennings on Friday.

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