Volleyball Canada – Volleyball Canada and VSE Canada (Vision Sports and Entertainment) are excited to announce that the Canadian Olympic Beach Volleyball Trials will take place at the Canor Molson Sand Centre in North Bay at 2 pm EST on Saturday, July 16.
 
The Canadian men’s teams earned a second beach volleyball spot for Canada at the Rio Olympics by winning their semi-final game at the FIVB World Continental Cup in Sochi, Russia, on Sunday morning.  Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter (both of Richmond Hill, Ont.) competed against Rolando Hernandez and Jose Gomez of Venezuela while Sam Pedlow (Barrie, Ont.) and Grant O’Gorman (Scarborough, Ont.) competed against Jesus Villafane and Jackson Henriquez of Venezuela. The teams split the first two matches before Pedlow/O’Gorman defeated Henriquez/Hernandez in a final golden set 15-11.
 
Now the teams of Binstock/Schachter and Pedlow/O’Gorman will play against each other in a winner-takes-all single match playoff – the winning team will travel to Rio to represent Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
 
Amedeo Bernardi, President of Vision Sports & Entertainment said, “We are so incredibly proud that the pairs clinched the final berth for Canada this past weekend. We are truly honoured that Volleyball Canada has chosen our facility to host the teams of Josh Binstock/Sam Schachter and Sam Pedlow/Grant O’Gorman in their deciding match. North Bay has become one of Canada’s preeminent beach volleyball destinations thanks to our great facility, generous sponsors, amazing fans and tireless volunteers.”
 
Ed Drakich, Volleyball Canada’s Beach High Performance Director, said:  “Volleyball Canada is thrilled to be returning to North Bay for the Volleyball Canada Rio 2016 Olympic Beach Volleyball Trials. The trials will consist of one match between Josh Binstock/Sam Schachter and Sam Pedlow/Grant O’Gorman to determine who will represent Canada at the Olympic Games, and join three other Canadian beach teams already qualified for Rio.”
 
The men’s team of Ben Saxton/Chaim Schalk, as well as two women’s teams -Sarah Pavan/Heather Bansley and Jamie Broder/Kristina Valijas – have already qualified for the Games in Rio.
 
“When you have a dream and work hard towards it, great things happen,” said City of North Bay Mayor Al McDonald.  “Amedeo Bernardi did just that with this Olympic Trial which we have the honour of hosting in our downtown. Our citizens have the chance to see the best Canadian athletes compete to see who will go to the Olympics this Saturday right here in our city.”
 
The match will take place at  2pm Eastern on Saturday, July 16th at the Canor Molson Sand Centre in downtown North Bay (near the corner of Wyld and Oak Streets).  Gates will open at 11 am.  Admission to the match is only $5 per person with children five and under free. 

Live streaming details coming soon. 
 

Volleyball Canada media contact:
Jackie Skender
E-mail: jskender@volleyball.ca
Phone: 613.794.7676