Humana-Paredes, Wilkerson start strong at Montreal beach volleyball tournament

Defending champions Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson posted two victories Thursday at the Montreal Elite stop on the FIVB Beach Pro Tour circuit.

The Toronto duo beat Brazil's Carolina Horta and Ana Patricia Ramos 21-12, 21-12 in the opener before posting a 21-13, 21-16 win over the Lithuanian duo of Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte.

Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson are seeking a third straight title after winning in 2023 and 2025.

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There was no tournament in Montreal in 2024, when Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson reached the beach volleyball gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics before losing to Ramos and partner Eduarda (Duda) Lisboa.

The Toronto team got a measure of revenge Thursday, outscoring the Brazilians 26-18 on attack points and 8-1 on serves.

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Lea Monkhouse of Mississauga, Ont., and local favourite Marie-Alex Belanger of Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Que., dropped a 21-15, 21-15 decision to Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova of Latvia.

In men's play, Samuel Schachter of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Jonathan Pickett of Wiarton, Ont., split two matches while Cameron Chadwick of Barrie, Ont., and Steven Abrams of Georgetown, Ont., dropped a pair.

Competition continues through Sunday at Parc Jean-Drapeau.