Lausanne, Switzerland, December 12, 2019 - Based on voting by players and coaches, the FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards recognise the outstanding performers of the year. We now turn to the Best Female Defender of 2018/2019.
Best Female Defender of 2018/2019 - Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN)
Melissa Humana-Paredes has improved each year since she and Sarah Pavan teamed up at the start of 2017 and the Canadians hit the very top in 2018-19 when they won gold at the Hamburg 2019 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships.
The 27-year-old Humana-Paredes and Pavan defeated the USA’s April Ross and Alexandra Klineman 2-1 (23-21, 23-21) for their first gold of 2019, and they followed up by topping the podium at the Edmonton 3-Star and Vienna 5-Star tournaments.
Humana-Paredes' nimbleness at the back of the court has been crucial to the team’s success. It means Pavan can concentrate on her work at the net, knowing that the sprightly Humana-Paredes has the back of the court covered for any balls that do get through.
Melissa Humana-Paredes celebrates a point a the 2019 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Hamburg.
The University of Toronto graduate can now look forward to a debut Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020. At Rio de Janeiro 2016, reigning world champions Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas finished with silver. If Humana-Paredes matches the form she showed in Hamburg, there is every chance she’ll have another gold medal in her collection.
Keep an eye on FIVB.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as we unveil this year's award winners.
Read more:
FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Best Male DefenderFIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Most Outstanding Women's Team
FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Best Male Blocker
FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Best Female Blocker
FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Best Male Offensive Player
FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Best Female Offensive Player
FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Most Outstanding Male Player
FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Most Improved Men's Team
FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Awards 2018/2019 - Most Improved Women's Team
Quick links - Beach volleyball: