OVA News

Canada’s Jessi Lelliott of Kelowna, BC and Ben Saxton of Calgary won the gold medal in comeback style yesterday in men’s beach volleyball at the Francophone Games in Beirut. Heather Bansley of Waterdown, Ont. and Julie Rodrigue of Quebec City added a bronze for Canada in women’s beach volleyball.

Lelliott and Saxton defeated Roman Sutter and Martin Sutter of Switzerland 23-25, 21-17, 15-10 in the championship final. Lelliott and Saxton made the right adjustments after dropping the first set.

“In the second set, we changed to a more basic defensive strategy,” said Lelliott.  “That worked nicely because we were able to start digging some balls and transitioning them for points. We also turned up the pressure with our serving in the last two sets.

“Ben was the star of the third set with his serves and blocks.  It was just wonderful to get the gold.”

In the women’s bronze medal match, Bansley and Rodrigue defeated Marie-Christine Mondor and Isabelle Rancourt of Canada-Quebec 21-17, 19-21, 15-12.  Switzerland beat France in the gold medal final.

VC