Best Canadian Women’s Beach Volleyball Teams

Canadian fans of women’s beach volleyball can remember that two women’s beach volleyball teams (Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley as well as Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas) represented the country at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

It’s also important to note that both Canadian women’s beach volleyball pairs finished the Olympic tournament in the top 10 world’s rankings. Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley as well as Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas took the 5-th and 9th place at the women’s beach Olympic volleyball tournament respectively. All of this means that the sport of women’s beach volleyball in Canada is on rise these days.

Among the top female beach volleyball players in the history of Canada are: Annie Martin, Barb Broen Ouellette, Brandie Wilkerson, Christine Pack, Guylaine Dumont, Jamie Broder, Heather Bansley, Kristina May, Kristina Valjas, Liz Maloney, Melissa Humana-Paredes, Marie-Andree Lessard, Megan McNamara, Nancy Gougeon, Nicole McNamara, Sarah Maxwell, Sara Pothaar, Taylor Pischke, Wanda Guenette and, of course, Sarah Pavan. Actually, this list could go on and on. It goes without saying that each of these athletes did fantastic job and made the history of beach volleyball in Canada.

It’s important to know that some of these athletes successfully continue to represent Canada on various international beach volleyball tournaments (such as the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the Pan American Games, NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit and others) nowadays. However, some of Canada’s best female volleyball players have already finished their sport career.

Today, we are going to go inside the world of Canadian women’s beach volleyball. We’ll tell you about the greatest former and current Canadian female beach volleyball players as well as the top women’s beach volleyball teams in the history. In addition, we’ll give you the details on their most remarkable sport achievements.

Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley

Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley have been playing together since 2013. Obviously, it’s one of the best women’s beach volleyball teams in the history of beach volleyball in Canada. This women’s beach volleyball team took part in the 2016 Summer Olympics. The women’s beach volleyball pair Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley played in “Pool E” of the women’s beach volleyball tournament. Sarah Pavan/Heather Bansley won all of 3 matches in “Pool E” (Sarah Pavan/Heather Bansley beat van der Vlist – van Gestel from the Netherlands 2-0; Heidrich – Zumkehr from Switzerland 2-0 and Borger – Buthe from Germany 2-0) and reached round of 16 in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. After that, Sarah Pavan/Heather Bansley defeated another pair from Canada Broder – Valjas and reached the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games. In the quarter-finals, Sarah Pavan/Heather Bansley lost to Ludwig – Walkenhorst from Germany 0-2 who have become Olympic champions later.

In addition, Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley participated in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships that took place in Netherlands in 2015. As a result, the Canadian women’s beach volleyball team took the 5-th place at that competition.

Sarah Pavan and Humana-Paredes

Sarah Pavan plays with Humana-Paredes these days. The Canadian women’s beach volleyball team represented the country at FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship that took place in Australia in 2017. Sarah Pavan and Humana-Paredes successfully played in “Pool G” and won all of 3 matches. Sarah Pavan – Humana-Paredes beat Flier–van Iersel from Netherlands 2-0, Menegatti–Perry from Italy 2-0 as well as Yue–Wang F. from China 2-0. Finally, the Canadian women’s beach volleyball team took the 1-st place in “Pool G” and reached round of 16. In round of 16, Sarah Pavan – Humana-Paredes defeated the women’s beach volleyball team from Switzerland Betschart–Huberli 2-0 and reached the quarter-finals. In the quarter finals, the Canadian women’s beach volleyball team beat Laboureur–Sude from Germany 2-0 and reached semifinals. In the semifinals, Sarah Pavan – Humana-Paredes lost to the US women’s beach volleyball team Ross–Fendrick 1-2. In the third place match, Sarah Pavan plays and Humana-Paredes lost to Larissa–Talita pair from Brazil and took the 4-th place.

Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson

Heather Bansley also played with Brandie Wilkerson. This Canadian women’s beach volleyball team participated in the Swatch World Tour finals that took place in Toronto in 2016. In the country quota match, Bansley – Wilkerson defeated the Canadian women’s beach volleyball team Pavan – Humana-Paredes 2-0. Bansley/Wilkerson played in the “Pool D”. Bansley – Wilkerson beat Menegatti – Giombini 2-0. Later, Bansley – Wilkerson lost to the legendary pair from Germany Ludwig – Walkenhorst 1-2. Bansley/Wilkerson also lost to another pair from Germany Laboureur/Sude 1-2.

Heather Bansley and Liz Maloney

This women’s beach volleyball team represented Canada at the Pan American Games that took place in Guadalajara in 2011. The pair took the 2-nd place in their pool and reached the quarter finals of the competition. In the quarter finals, Heather Bansley and Liz Maloney have lost to the legendary pair from Brazil Franca/Silva. Franca/Silva reached the final and won the gold at the 2011 Pan American Games.

Barb Broen Ouellette and Christine Pack

Barb Broen Ouellette and Christine Pack participated in the Pan American Games that took place in Winnipeg in 1999. The Canadian women’s beach volleyball team took the 4-th place.

Jennifer Harkness and Sue Lesage

Jennifer Harkness and Sue Lesage represented Canada at the Pan American Games that took place in Winnipeg in 1999. As a result, the women’s beach volleyball pair took the 10th place at that competition.

Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas

Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas is another legendary pair from Canada. This Canadian women’s beach volleyball team also participated in the RIO 2016 women’s Olympic beach volleyball tournament. It’s worth noting that Jamie Broder/Kristina Valjas pair played in “Pool D”. Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas won 2 matches and lost 1 match in “Pool D”. Jamie Broder/Kristina Valjas beat Menegatti – Giombini from Italy 2-1 as well as Elghobashy – Nada from Egypt 2-0 and lost to the legendary women’s beach volleyball pair from Germany Ludwig – Walkenhorst 0-2. Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas reached round of 16 in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. In the round of 16 Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas lost to Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley 0-2.

Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin

Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin is a women’s beach volleyball team that represented Canada at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The team played in “Pool D”. Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin won Nicole Schnyder and Simone Kuhn from Switzerland 2-0. After that, Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin lost to Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs from the USA 1-2. Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin also beat Kathrine Maaseide and Susanne Glesnes from Norway 2-0. As a result, the Canadian women’s beach volleyball pair reached round of 16. In the round of 16 Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin beat Dalixia Fernandez and Tamara Larrea from Cuba 2-0 and reached the quarter-finals. In the quarter-finals, Dumont – Martin lost to the gold Olympic medalist Kerri Walsh and Misty May from the United States 0-2. Finally, the team took the 5-th place at the women’s beach volleyball tournament.

Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin also participated in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships that took place in Rio de Janeiro in 2003. The women’s beach volleyball pair took the 9-th place at that competition.

Annie Martin and Marie-Andree Lessard

Annie Martin also played with Marie-Andree Lessard. This Canadian women’s beach volleyball team participated in the 2012 London Olympic Games. The pair played in “Pool F” and lost all of 3 matches. Annie Martin and Marie-Andree Lessard lost to Dampney – Mullin from Great Britain 1-2. After that, the team also lost to Khomyakova – Ukolova from Russia 1-2. In addition, Annie Martin and Marie-Andree lost to Cicolari – Menegatti 1-2. The Canadian women’s beach volleyball team didn’t reach round of 16 at the Olympic women’s beach volleyball tournament. As a result, Annie Martin and Marie-Andree Lessard took the 19th place.

Marie-Andree Lessard and Sarah Maxwell

Marie-Andree Lessard also played with Sarah Maxwell. It’s worth noting that Marie-Andree Lessard and Sarah Maxwell participated in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships that took place in Berlin in 2005. The Canadian women’s beach volleyball team took the 17th place at that tournament.

The pair also participated in Pan American Games that took place in Rio de Janeiro in 2007. As a result, the Canadian women’s beach volleyball team took the 4-th place.

Melissa Humana-Paredes and Taylor Pischke

Melissa Humana-Paredes and Taylor Pischke is the women’s beach volleyball pair that represented Canada at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships that took place in Netherlands in 2015. The Canadian women’s beach volleyball pair lost in the round of 16.

Melissa Humana-Paredes and Taylor Pischke also participated in the Pan American Games that took place in Toronto in 2015. The Canadian women’s beach volleyball team took the 4th place.

Nancy Gougeon and Wanda Guenette

Nancy Gougeon and Wanda Guenette is the women’s beach volleyball team that participated in the Pan American Games that took place in Santo Domingo in 2003. The pair took the 4-th place at that competition.

Thank you so much for reading our article. We have just told you about the best women’s pairs in the history of beach volleyball in Canada. Each of these women’s beach volleyball teams has represented Canada at international competitions and has remarkable sport achievements. Now, it’s time for you to find the answer to the question – what the best Canadian women’s beach volleyball team is. Best of luck!