Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson of Canada kicked off their 2025 beach volleyball season with a strong performance at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite16 in Saquarema, Brazil. The seasoned duo triumphed in a thrilling Pool F showdown against Italy’s Giada Bianchi and Claudia Scampoli, emerging victorious in a tightly contested three-set match: 2-1 (21-14, 17-21, 15-8).
Back in action after earning silver at the Paris Olympics, Melissa and Brandie displayed impressive synergy and determination. Their performance puts them one step away from securing a direct berth in the Round of 12, pending the outcome of their next match.
Next Up: A Showdown with Latvia
The pair’s next challenge is against Latvia’s Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova—formidable opponents who recently beat Brazil’s Talita Calixto and Thainara Feitosa in straight sets. If the Canadians prevail, they’ll finish top of their group, gaining a strategic advantage in the knockout stages.
Day’s Highlights and Tournament Structure
Thursday will be a pivotal day with 12 deciding matches taking place. After these matches are completed, the field will be trimmed to just 18 teams out of the original 24. Among the standout performances so far:
- Brazil’s Andressa Cavalcanti and Tainá Bigi swept Switzerland’s Anouk and Zoé Vergé-Dépré.
- Germany’s Müller and Tillmann narrowly beat Finland’s Lahti and Ahtiainen.
Elite contenders from Brazil, the United States, and Australia remain strong as the Elite16 escalates in Saquarema.
For full event details and match updates, visit the official article on Volleyball World.
