Canada names teams for Olympic beach volleyball qualifying tournament

OTTAWA — The Canadian Press

Published Saturday, Jun. 16 2012

Volleyball Canada announced its teams Saturday for the Continental Cup Olympic qualifying tournament in beach volleyball that starts Thursday in Mazatlan, Mexico.

Heather Bansley and Liz Maloney, both of Toronto, and Annie Martin of Sherbrooke, Que., and Marie-Andree Lessard of Ville LaSalle, Que., make up the two women’s team.

For the men, Toronto’s Josh Binstock and Martin Reader of Comox, B.C., and Calgary Ben Saxton and Toronto’s Christian Redmann will represent Canada.

The winners of the men’s and women’s competition earn a berth for the 2012 London Games. The second and third place teams will head to Moscow for a last chance Olympic qualifying event.

If Canada earns a berth to London, there will be a Canadian trials event between the teams that are competing in the NORCECA Continental Cup. The trial would go July 7 in Toronto to determine which team will represent Canada in London.

Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico will also field two pairs apiece in both the men’s and women’s competition, while Costa Rica will have one entry.

Selections to the Continental Cup for both men and women were based on performances on the FIVB World Tour circuit.