Canada looking to remain unbeaten in pool E on the last pool play match of the Rio Olympics

Rio de Janeiro, August 11, 2016 – Canada’s Heather Bansley/Sarah Pavan are looking to stay unbeaten in pool E against Karla Borger/Britta Buthe of Germany in the last pool play match of the Rio Olympics.  A win by Canada moves them into the elimination stage while a victory by Germany could set up a two-way or three-way tie for 1st place if Switzerland beats the Netherlands in the other pool play match.  A loss by Canada sends them into a tie with Germany, and a possible three-way tie if Switzerland wins.

Head to Head

Bansley/Pavan and Borger/Buthe have split the four meetings on the FIVB World Tour.  The teams have not played each other since July, 2015.

• Bansley/Pavan won 21-13, 19-21, and 15-13 in 59 minutes, FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2015, Round of 24, 07/01/2015

• Borger/Buthe won 21-18 and 21-12 in 38 minutes, St. Petersburg Grand Slam, Pool Play, 06/19/2015

• Bansley/Pavan won 16-21, 21-14, and 15-13 in 49 minutes, Klagenfurt Grand Slam, Pool Play, 07/30/2014

• Borger/Buthe won 21-15 and 21-15 in 35 minutes, Corrientes Grand Slam, Round of 16, 05/24/2013

Historically the #5 seed has won three of the four matches against the #8 seed in the Olympic Games

• Maria Antonelli/Talita Antunes (5), Brazil def. Sara Niedrig/Laura Ludwig (8), Germany, 21-19, 29-31, 15-13 in 65 minutes, Pool Play, London (2012).

• Nicole Branagh/Elaine Youngs (5), United States def. Stephanie Pohl/Okka Rau (8), Germany, 21-17, 21-16 in 46 minutes, Pool Play, Beijing (2008).

• Stephanie Pohl/Okka Rau (8), Germany def. Natalie Cook/Nicole Sanderson (5), Australia, 21-10, 22-20 in 41 minutes, Pool Play, Athens (2004).

• Monica Rodrigues/Adriana Samuel (5), Brazil def. Sachiko Fujita/Yukiko Takahashi (8), Japan, 15-6 in 45 minutes, Contender’s Bracket Round 5, Atlanta (1996).

Heather Bansley/Sarah Pavan, Canada, Seed #5, Pool E, 2-0, MAX Set Ratio, 1.2353 Point Ratio, Qualified 5th with 6,150 Points in the 2015-16 Olympic qualification period

• Heather: September 13, 1987 (28y10m24d), 170 cm (5’7″), 64 kg (142 lbs.), Hometown London, 68th FIVB World Tour event, $273,375 career winnings (ranks 60th)

• Sarah: August 16, 1986 (29y11m21d), 196 cm (6’5″), 75 kg (167 lbs.), Hometown Kitchener, 38th FIVB World Tour event, $228,225 career winnings (ranks 74th)

• Heather and Sarah have been playing together since 2013. They are playing in their 38th FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together (ranks 88th), $456,450 career winnings (ranks 29th).

• Heather has played in seven …

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