Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson have clinched the first spot in the Paris 2024 Olympic beach volleyball final after a dramatic semifinal victory on Thursday. The Canadian duo, seeded fourth, overcame Switzerland’s Tanja Huberli and Nina Brunner in a gripping 2-1 match (14-21, 22-20, 15-12). Key to their triumph was Brandie Wilkerson’s dominant blocking, which earned Canada seven points, compared to four for the Swiss team. Wilkerson led the scoring with 25 points, including an ace, while Melissa Humana-Paredes contributed 12 points.
In the second semifinal, Brazil’s top-seeded team, Ana Patricia Ramos and Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda), defeated Australia’s Mariafe Artacho Del Solar and Taliqua Clancy 2-1 (20-22, 21-15, 15-12). The final at Paris 2024 will feature a showdown between Canada’s Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson and Brazil’s Ana Patricia and Duda.
