June 18, 2022: Canada’s Brandie Wilkerson and Sophie Bukovec will play Brazil in Sunday’s gold-medal match at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Rome, Italy.
In today’s semi-final, Canada dominated the first set, and then Germans Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann stormed back in the second set to force a tie-break. In the end Germany could not hold off Canada’s pressure and early lead to fall 1-2 (15-21, 21-15, 12-15). Match stats here.
“It’s a dream,” said Toronto’s Bukovec, in her post-match interview. “I am so grateful and honoured to be here… and to be playing on this stage and in a final is incredible and to be playing with Brandie, I have no words.” Wilkerson is a 2020 Olympian with previous partner Heather Bansley, now retired, and teamed up with Bukovec for this season.
In the other women’s semi, Brazil’s Duda/Ana Patrícia defeated Heidrich/Vergé-Dépré of Switzerland 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) to earn the opportunity to play for gold. The women’s final will be contested at 2 pm EDT on June 19.
This will mark the second time in a row that Canada has a team in the women’s Worlds’ finals. Beach Volleyball World Champions (2019) and Olympians, Sarah Pavan (Kitchener, ON) and Melissa Humana-Paredes (Toronto, ON) were eliminated by Duda/Ana Patrícia in Friday’s quarterfinals. They finished fifth in the standings at this tournament.
British Columbians Megan and Nicole McNamara were 17th overall, and the Canadian men’s entry of Sam Schachter (Richmond Hill, ON) and Dan Dearing (Toronto) also finished in 17th position.
- Schedule & results here.
- Watch live: www.cbcsports.ca
Volleyball Canada media contact:
Jackie Skender
Mobile: 613.794.7676