Pavan and Bansley Finish Fifth at Olympics

Former Nebraska volleyball standout Sarah Pavan finished fifth in beach volleyball for Canada with partner Heather Bansley at the Olympics on Sunday at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Pavan and Bansley were beaten in the quarterfinals by Germany's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst, 14-21, 14-21. 

Pavan and Bansley had been unbeaten in four matches entering Sunday's quarterfinal and had not lost a set. Finishing fifth in the competition with a 4-1 record, Pavan and Bansley became just the second Canadian women's team to advance to the Olympic quarterfinals and first since 2004. 

On the court, the U.S. Women's National Team finished pool play with a perfect 5-0 record after a 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19) win over China on Sunday. Jordan Larson had 18 points (15 kills, two aces, one block) and 14 digs to lead the U.S. Kelsey Robinson added 11 kills, and Kayla Banwarth had nine digs. 

Team USA will face Japan, the fourth-place team in Pool A, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at a time to be announced. The Americans, who are in search of their first Olympic Games gold medal in women’s volleyball, finished pool play with a 5-0 record for the second consecutive Olympic Games. The U.S. has finished with the silver in each of the past two Olympics Games.