Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas (Photo: FIVB)

Marie-Andree Lessard and Annie Martin almost got there – the main draw of the first event of the 2012 FIVB Swatch Beach Volleyball World Tour, held in Brasilia, Brazil till this coming Sunday (22). One of our most experienced teams was stopped only in the third and final round of the qualifier by a German wall formed by Borger-Büthe in straight sets (16:21, 14:21). Before falling to the Germans, Lessard-Martin defeated another Canadian team, recent national champions Kacie MacTavish and Julie Rodrigue, in the second round, in the longest and best match of the day. After almost one hour, Lessard-Martin won 2:1 (20:22, 21:15, 15:12), showing some class to the Brazilian fans present at Esplanada dos Ministerios.

Also in the second round, Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas lost their chance to advance to the main draw as they lost 0:2 (19:21, 18:21) to Saka-Rtvelo, from Georgia. Broder-Valjas had started well defeating a Uruguayan team in less than half hour, earlier in the first round. Both MacTavish-Rodrigue and Lessard-Martin got a bye in the first round advancing to the next where they faced each other.

With these results today, Canada will be represented by only one team in the main draw. Elizabeth Maloney and Heather Bansley have a direct entry and will start competing tomorrow.

For more results, and live streams check out our FIVB Brasilia Coverage.