Canucks dominate men’s event in Chula Vista

CHULA VISTA, USA, September, 30, 2012 - Canada captured the men’s gold and bronze medals on Sunday at the 2012 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit event at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

In the gold medal match played in hot and breezy conditions, the Canada-1 team of Chaim Schalk and Benjamin Saxton defeated the USA-3 duo of Will Montgomery and Tri Bourne, 21-16, 21-15 in 37 minutes.

Schalk and Saxton advanced to the finals with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-15) victory over the Canada-2 team of Cameron Wheelan and Michael Plantiga in the semifinals.

“Today was solid. Both matches we were consistent the whole way through,” Saxton said. “We didn’t give the other teams any breaks, so that helped us.”

“We were tough on the opponents,” Schalk agreed. “It got windy in the gold medal match and our ball control was good, really good. So that helps a lot.”

In the bronze medal match, Wheelan and Plantiga beat the USA-5 team of Avery Drost and Jesse Rambis, 31-29, 21-19 in 55 minutes.

Silver medalists Bourne and Montgomery defeated Drost and Rambis, 2-0 (31-29, 21-19) in the semifinals. But in the final, they struggled against the Canada’s tough block.

“We played well. They’re just a really good team and they played really well in that match,” Montgomery said. “They’re the best in the tournament and they deserve the gold.”

Sunday’s Results

Semifinals: CAN1 d CAN2 2-0 (21-11, 21-15), USA3 d USA5 2-0 (31-29, 21-19); Bronze medal: CAN2 d USA5 2-0 (23-21, 29-27); Gold medal: CAN1 d USA3 2-0 (21-16, 21-15)

Classification 13-16: TRI d TCI 2-0 (21-15, 21-6); ISV d CRC 2-1 (24-26, 21-11, 15-7).