Canada’s world title in women’s beach volleyball ended on Sunday in Rome.
Second seed Eduarda (Duda) Lisboa and Ana Patricia Ramos of Brazil, who won three youth titles together, won the first at the senior level after defeating Sophie Bukovec and Brandi Wilkerson of Toronto by 21-17, 21- 19 in a fun gold game. match for medals at the Italian Forum.
Wilkerson and Bukovec, the latter competing in their first FIVB beach worlds, were top 20 in the tournament and tried to follow the 2019 champions and their Canadian compatriots Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes, who lost in the quarterfinals. of end before Duda and Ana Patricia and was fifth in the general.
In the bronze medal match on Sunday, Svenja Muller and Cinja Tillman of Germany took the victory after Anouk Vergé-Depré and Joana Heidrich of Switzerland were forced to withdraw from the match by a set and led the second. when Heidrich was injured.
Meanwhile, Wilkerson’s best result in his two previous World Cup appearances was his fifth in Vienna in 2017.
“We came here hoping to win like everyone else, but managing it helps or hurts you,” Wilkerson told volleyballworld.com after winning three sets of Saturday’s semifinals over Tillman and Muller.
“I think a big thing for us is just enjoying a good level of volleyball, and if that means we end up winning, that’s great.”
TARGET | Bukovec / Wilkerson won the silver medal at the 1st World Tournament as partners:
Canada falls to Brazil in World Cup beach volleyball final
Brazilians Eduarda Santos Lisboa and Ana Patricia Silva Ramos defeated Canadians Sophie Bukovec and Brandie Wilkerson in consecutive sets to win the gold medal at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Rome.
The Worlds were only the fourth tournament together for Bukovec and Wilkerson, who became partners on the court in February after the latter separated from Heather Bansley.
They were undefeated in the group, defeating Switzerland, Italy, the United States and France, and eliminated Thailand and Italy by Saturday.
Resistant Canadians
The Canadians have faced a tough test against Duda and Ana Patricia, who were playing their third and second world, respectively, but neither of them had qualified above the ninth before this year.
After Duda and Ana Patricia advanced 14-10 in the second set, the Canadians drew level even after Duda touched the last ball in a net battle with Wilkerson before a shot from Ana Patricia went wide. limits.
Brazil took the lead again by two points, only to see Canada tie the set 16-16 when Wilkerson turned down an offer from Ana Patricia. The Canadian entered Sunday’s second game in tournament blocks behind Ana Patricia.
Bukovec and Wilkerson then took the lead, but Brazil won the next three points after a timeout. Bukovec cut the deficit to one on a shot on the court, but Ana Patricia scored a point off the block to win the set.
Brazil took a 7-2 lead in the first set and never gave up the lead.
Duda and Ana Patricia led up to six at 15-9 before the Canadians signaled a timeout.
They tried to get back to the set, closing out the 19-16 with a Wilkerson top shot inside the sideline after a couple of outstanding defensive plays from Bukovec.
But a Wilkerson block went out of bounds and took all the momentum out of the Canadians and Duda finished the set with a clever shot that sent in the opposite direction.
“I’m happy with the progress we’ve made in every game,” Ana Patricia said before Sunday’s final. “We will fight with everything we have for the gold medal, which would be very important for our team.”
TARGET | Bukovec and Wilkerson v. Brazil:
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship Rome Women’s Gold Medal Match: Canada vs. Brazil
Watch Canadians Sophie Bukovec and Brandie Wilkerson fight Brazilians Eduarda Santos Lisboa and Ana Patricia Silva Ramos in the women’s gold medal at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Rome.