FIVB: Humana-Paredes Named Rookie of the Year
The FIVB announced the winners of the 2014 Beach Volleyball Awards today and Canada's Melissa Humana-Paredes has been named the 2014 FIVB Rookie of the Year!
Melissa and her partner Taylor Pischke (Winnipeg, Man) finished the 2014 season in 23rd, just ahead of fellow Canadians Pavan-Bansley and Broder-Valjas finished 24th and 25th respectively. They are currently ranked 35th in the world.
The pair picked up a pair of silvers and a gold on the NORCECA Tour before coming home with their second FIVB U23 Bronze medal. They jumped on the FIVB Tour for four events, highlighted by a 9th in Stare Jablonski and a 5th in Sao Paolo, then capped of the year by winning the NORCECA Championships in Trinidad & Tobago in December.
Melissa and Taylor plan to compete full-time on the FIVB Tour this summer and are hoping to be the team that represents Canada at the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games.
Click here for full list of award winners.