Canada’s 2025 Beach Team Features Five Olympians

JANUARY 16, 2024 .- Volleyball Canada announced its 2025 roster of beach National Team athletes following the annual induction camp, held earlier this month at the Downsview training centre in Toronto.

Five out of the six 2024 Olympians are returning: On the senior women’s side, silver medalists Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes, both of Toronto, Ontario, join fellow Paris 2024 athletes Heather Bansley (Waterdown, Ont.) and Sophie Bukovec (Toronto).

The senior athletes compete for points and prize money on Volleyball World’s Beach Pro Tour.

Two-time Olympian (2024, 2016) Sam Schachter headlines the men’s team. He is joined by Tynan Gannett, Luke de Greeff, Martin Licht, Steven Abrams, Jonny Pickett and Guillaume Rivest.

Rivest, Pickett and Licht were previously part of Volleyball Canada’s summer beach team. Pickett and Licht are also affiliated with RBC Training Ground’s “Future Olympians” program.

The women’s NextGen team consists of Lea Monkhouse, Marie-Alex Belanger, Amy Ozee and newcomer Emily Anderson.

The Canadian Next Gen teams have had recent podium success on the NORCECA Tour.

"This year’s roster features an exciting blend of veteran talent and emerging stars," said Kerry MacDonald, Volleyball Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. "Building on the incredible achievements of Brandie and Mel in Paris, along with the strong performances of our Next Gen teams to close out 2024, 2025 is shaping up to be a remarkable year for Canadian beach volleyball."

Note: Summer athletes are announced at a later date.
 
Senior Athletes
Brandie Wilkerson (Ontario)
Melissa Humana-Paredes (Ontario)
Heather Bansley (Ontario)
Sophie Bukovec (Ontario)

Next Gen (female)
Lea Monkhouse (Ontario)
Amy Ozee (Hawaii, USA)
Marie-Alex Belanger (Quebec)
Emily Anderson (Nevada, USA)

Next Gen (male)
Sam Schachter (Ontario)
Tynan Gannett (Nova Scotia)
Luke de Greeff (British Columbia)
Steven Abrams (Ontario)
Martin Licht (Ontario)
Jonathan Pickett (Ontario)
Guillaume Rivest (Quebec)