Canadian beach volleyball teams have become a force on the FIVB tour in recent years, and none more so than Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley.

The duo formed their partnership in 2013, which was Pavan's first year playing beach volleyball professionally. Four years, seven medals, and one Olympic appearance later, Pavan and Bansley announced they had broken up.


This complicated things for the Swatch Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals, which will take place in Toronto from September 14-17.

When they made the decision to break up after the Olympics, Pavan and Bansley didn't know the World Tour Finals would be in Canada, where they would likely be given a wildcard berth.

The two women will now be forced to play against each other in a country quota match, with each athlete competing alongside a new partner.

The goal is always to win tournaments and be on top of the podium, and I really think we kind of maxed out on our capacity as a pair.

Pavan chose Melissa Humana-Parades as her new defender, and the duo already announced their intention to pursue a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Bansley said her future plans are less concrete, but she will play with Brandie Wilkerson in the World Tour Finals country quota match.

As far back as early spring of this year, Pavan and Bansley were thinking about the end of their partnership.

It was Sarah's decision not to want to play the Toronto finals with me. I think it was because it was a difficult season in terms of our relationship together.

"Obviously, there are many reasons, and I really don't need to get into all of them," Pavan said. "But a big one is that the goal is always to win tournaments and be on top of the podium, and I really think we kind of maxed out on our capacity as a pair. In four seasons, we were never able to be on top of the podium."

Bansley, however, took a slightly different tone in her comments about the break-up.

"It's a little bit frustrating because I think we both earned that spot [in the World Tour Finals]," she said. "It was Sarah's decision not to want to play the Toronto finals with me. I think it was because it was a difficult season in terms of our relationship together. We had a lot of issues within our team and interpersonally, so she was just finished; that's my opinion."

The Canadian country quota match will take place Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at Polson Pier, the World Tour Finals venue, in Toronto.

Click here for the Swatch World Tour Finals pool play schedule.