Humana-Paredes aiming for Memorable Fort Lauderdale Debut
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, February 22, 2018 – Melissa Humana-Paredes
will continue to tick off staging posts in her career as the
2018 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour continues at the Fort
Lauderdale Major Series tournament next week.
The tournament runs from February 26 to March 4 at Fort
Lauderdale Beach Park and it will be the first time that the
25-year-old Humana Paredes has appeared at the tournament in
Florida.
“I’m so excited – I’ve never been to Fort Lauderdale before so
it will be my first time,” Humana-Paredes said in an interview
with www.beachmajorseries.com.
“Last year I remember missing out on all the fun and taking a
photo of myself watching on the Beach Major Series BeachStream
in class. I’ve only heard good things about the place and I know
it being a Major Series event that it’s going to be showcased in
the best way.”
Last year Humana-Paredes was unable to attend as she was
continuing her studies at York University, but once she got
going on the 2017 season it quickly became one to remember.
The Canadian began a new partnership with Rio de Janeiro 2016
Olympian Sarah Pavan, and they quickly showed their potential by
finishing fourth at the Rio 4-Star tournament in May. Two more
tournaments followed and then in July they triumphed at the
Porec Major 5-Star event.
It was the first time both players had topped a World Tour
podium, and two more medals followed with bronze at the Gstaad
Major 5-Star and silver at the Olsztyn 4-Star.
They finished fourth at the Austria 2017, FIVB Beach Volleyball
World Championships, and the Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World
Tour Finals in Hamburg, but their second place finish in the
World Rankings showed the pair has potential for the coming
season.
“That’s been the exciting part – having a pre-season together,”
Melissa said. “It’s nice to have the time to prepare. We’ll have
five weeks leading up to Fort Lauderdale – I wouldn’t say we’re
ready right at this minute, we’re not quite where we were at the
end of last season – but our preparation for the long season
will be much improved compared to last year.
“But training’s been good – it’s always a challenge to come back
after some time off after the season. It takes a couple of weeks
to get the legs and lungs back. At the end of January, I
definitely was dying! It’s like riding a bike, though, once you
get back into things.”
Humana-Paredes was voted 2017’s FIVB Most Improved Player. It is
a reflection of the potential she has shown from a young age.
In 2011 she and Victoria Altomare won FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball
World Championships silver in front of their home fans in
Halifax. Back to back U23 World Championships bronze medals
followed with Taylor Pischke, and then they went full time on
the World and NORCECA Tours until their split at the end of the
2016 season.
She teamed up with former Canada volleyball international Pavan,
who had reached the Rio 2016 quarterfinals with Heather Bansley.
“I knew going into the partnership that this was the deal and
that Sarah had her indoor career – I understood that,” Humana
Paredes said. “I accepted it and I think it worked well for us
both, especially last year when I was still in school. I never
once saw Sarah’s indoor career as a negative but knowing she
quit for us – the team – is really humbling.
“I know volleyball was a big part of her life and career and
giving something up she enjoys and make a commitment to this
team and beach volleyball is very touching.
It means a lot.” |