OVA News

The York University Lions were well represented this past weekend (July 28-29) as Daniel Dearing and Melissa Humana-Paredes each won gold at the Ontario Open Beach Volleyball Championships at Ashbridges Bay in Toronto.

Dearing, of Toronto partnered with Garrett May to win the men’s title; while Humana-Paredes, also of Toronto and Taylor Pischke captured the gold on the women’s side.

The duo of Dearing and May entered the tournament as the fourth ranked team and were coming off a bronze medal finish at the Vancouver Open two weeks ago (July 15). They knocked off the top-seeded pair of Chaim Schalk and Matt Zbyszewski in the championship game, 17-21, 21-19, 15-11.

In the semi-final match, Dearing and May upset second ranked team of Sam Pedlow and Lions recruit Grant O’Gorman, 21-14, 18-21, 15-13. O’Gorman and Pedlow were able to re-group to win the bronze medal. This is the second time the duo has finished on the podim in as many weeks, as they captured the gold medal at the Cobourg Open on July 14.

Fellow Lion Dallas Keith (Toronto) and partner Oleg Kovalchuk won their opening match, but lost their next two, eliminating them from further contention. Felipe Humana-Paredes (Toronto) and partner Alex Oneid lost both of their matches.

In the women’s draw, Humana-Paredes and Pischke came into the tournament as the second ranked team and upset the top ranked duo of Caleigh Whitaker and Christine Lamey in the championship game, 21-19, 17-21, 15-11. Whitaker is also a student at York University.

This is Humana-Paredes and Pischke’s second tournament victory in as many weeks as they captured gold at the Vancouver Open. The duo will represent Canada at the under-21 beach volleyball world championships in Halifax this fall.

Story from the York Lions Website | YorkULions.ca