Final - Melissa/Brandie 🇨🇦 vs. Müller/Tillmann 🇩🇪 | Beach Pro Tour Montreal 2025 - Full Match

An area of improvement for her at the end line and then you sprinkle in the effective optioning from Canada and the consistent ball control and passing become very tough to take points off of them. Women's gold medal match gets underway. Germany in the yellow tops. Mellon Brandy from Canada in the white and a nice touch here from Mula. Brandy in transition. Oh another touch from Tillman but it's gonna go down. Transition kill for Brandy and Mellon. And there's that block defense already rearing its head right there for Canada as Mell gets a dig. Brandy has a chance in transition there and look how high this contact is from Brandy over the top of Savannah Muller. Now that first transition attempt however that's what I'm going to watch closely from Mell. There's a nice serve from Lucy Jimenez and that's kind of a bonus for Canada. Right so Brandy has been the really aggressive server. If you can get an ace from Mell that's kind of your bonus point. And I love that serve from Mell because she kind of comes barreling in across court looking to go to the middle and then she kind of pops it to the line. This one dropping Tillman to the sand. Great swing from Senya Tillman. Pepper and one up the scene. Excellent pizza ball there from Senya Tillman. Is that set just a little bit further outside than I think she wanted. Still able to get a really nice arm on it. High pass from Mell. Ball a little bit tight. Tillman waiting in the pocket. A nice scoop from the digs leader and Brandy trying to pull on that and they were thinking maybe four touches. I'm not sure. I don't know what the argument would have been because that was the second touch from Senya. Yeah so I don't know maybe the preview. Yeah good question. Yeah I'm not I'm not totally sure what the discussion would have been. And there's an ace serve from one of our aces leaders Senya Tillman and the matchup I'm gonna be watching closely here is Mell versus the defense of Germany because I like the defensive matchup of Germany where she has to go so high to get it over Senya and then you have one of the fastest most patient defenders back there and so if Brandy's unable to option I like Germany's chances a lot but if Mell's able to fend off these serves and put Brandy up on two and maybe even force them to start serving Brandy that's going to turn the tides for Canada. Three a piece. Perfect serve up the middle. Nobody touching it for Germany. And he talked about it. Brandy's serving has been electric this week and not only are they the strongest block D team in the tournament but Brandy is having the best serving tournament in recent memory for me. No question. Best serving I've seen from Wilkerson. Or serving three. Option. Brandy gets stopped. That's a good opportunity for a touch but better offense from Tillman. We don't see that a ton from Senya and maybe that's the game plan is to just get Brandy as uncomfortable as possible. Move her around. Go on two when she's not up at the net yet. Overhead for Mell. Little baby chip down the line is perfect. Excellent shot for Mell. Perfectly placed. I think she's going to get a lot of pressure and so we're going to see Mell break out every single tool she has. This being one of them. Oh nice short serve on Miller. Puts up a pretty darn good pass. Mell patient in that deep angle. And Mell going to poke into the angle. Just flow with that ball. Nice turn and burn for Canada. And it all starts with that serve that I love so much from Mell. Just pinning Senya. Short to her sideline. Can't move an offensive around. Options taken out of play allows Canada set up defense. Changing it up. Going deep middle. And Mueller trying to go deep with the swing and Mueller ready to walk off for maybe a side change or even maybe a time out. And they'll take the time out. And I like the time out and this week it should just be renamed Mell and Brandy week because they have been spectacular this entire week and this venue is just their venue. They won their last gold medal came here in Montreal two years ago and it's far from a done deal. But when you have this extra player on your side with all those Maple Leaf flags and thirty five hundred strong out here it's been sort of goosebump inducing to see the ovations that they've gotten every single night. It's one thing to do it once but for the second round of full play and the third round of full play and the first round of playoffs and the semifinals and again here in the finals and they created a traffic jam last night where typically our shuttle from here to the hotel takes 25 minutes tops. We were in there for the better part of an hour because everyone stayed to get pictures with Mell and Brandy and then everyone left at the same exact time in one lane road. That's going to cause problems. So it was a traffic jam in Montreal caused by two beach volleyball players which is a pretty cool thing to say. Impacting everything around them. Line drive serve from Mell is good. Mell trying to chase that one down. Good delay from Brandy to get the touch. And that's an example of what I think is one of the most improved aspects of Savenia's game. She has been passing exceptionally throughout this tournament. That was another nasty serve from Mell that she put in a pretty good spot. Very rare have I seen her in this event struggle that goes long. Very rarely have I seen her really struggle. Passes give up more than one where that has been a bit of an Achilles heel for this squad specifically Savenia. Good rip from Brandy. Not enough top spin on that one. What I've loved from Brandy this week is that when she has missed a jump serve she hasn't gone away from it. A lot of players are quick to go away from it with one miss or two misses. Brandy has stayed with it this entire week. I agree completely. It is very impressive to see the grit on her service pressure. Not wide. Little low line swing off the block of Savenia. It's an aggressive approach. Aggressive swing from Mell and I want to count all the different ways that Mell finds to put a ball away because so far two side switches in she hasn't gone to the same shot or swing twice. A good dropper and another good pass from Mueller. Mell with another scoopy and the cutty the scoop and deliver from Melissa Humana-Paredes. And the variety continues to expand for Mell and what a fantastic job she's doing just taking her space and so patient in the pocket and not only is she making digs she's putting them right on Brandy's platform. Challenge here from Tillman. She rushes. She's gonna lose it. I think this is an emotional challenge. We saw one from Duda and then Duda realized that it was an emotional challenge and she called it off and we have a pretty good look at it. I see a pretty good amount of that ball right on the line. Much to the crowd's delight. Here's another look at the serve. Hard to tell from that angle but that's why we have the challenge play. Referee coming down to get the call. 11-6 for Canada. And Mell barely a little ice cream scoop there not getting enough. And another nice pass from Savenia. This has been sort of an unexpected surprise how dangerous Mell's serving has been. We haven't seen her serve like this all week and Savenia is she's doing really well with them. Matassa is dancing across the net. It's unbelievable the height at which Brandy is hitting these line shots. That is a high reach. Hey Kai doesn't even begin to describe the elevation that Brandy was just hitting that at. I mean that would have been over a lot of male blockers playing on Sunday. Unbelievable. 12-7 for Canada. Oh my if it's not Mell it's Brandy from the service line. Another ace for Canada. And Germany's already weathered a literal storm for mother nature today to make it here and right now they just need to weather this serving onslaught from Canada because they're getting it from both of them. Now into the middle. Option opportunity for Savenia and she takes it. That is important tool for this German team. Yeah the on two from both these teams is a big reason why they're both here and Savenia I like her staying aggressive going fast and just sending that poke straight down too quick for Mell to defend but I don't recall a time where Canada has gone back to the service line and not earned at least one point. Their block defense all week has been with this time for the last couple of months because I like you said specifically Brandy serving have not seen it this consistent and this effective. Speaking of serving German teams usually some of the best float servers we have in the world not quite dialed there yet. Good pass from Savenia and trying to go high don't mind the swing but it goes along no touch and this we're getting into that shots altered category quickly here and that's really without Brandy being a huge presence defensively yet but it's been Mel making dig after dig after dig and now they're trying to go extra high extra sharp and try to do just a little bit more than maybe they need to and that's resulting in a number of errors. Serve from Tillman just trying to change up the look a little bit they've been going with the float serve she goes with the jump it goes wide long excuse me so the last time it's been on Jeremy's hands it's been a miss serve an error long and another miss serve and the errors are just starting to pile up a little bit as they're they're pressing at the end of this first set. A good serve from Brandy for pass from Tillman she's going to work behind trying to go low line Brandy says not today. What a re-block that was from Brandy as Mel's parked in line she's set up there and Brandy lines up nice and neutral her chest on Savenia's chest and just drops her right hand right in that line fantastic high IQ block by Brandy. Serve goes long but again like you said real points defensive points are coming in bunches for Canada. Cross court pass from Mel. Cross court Cuddy is perfect from Mel. She's seen it all this has just been a week-long flow state for Mel and Brandy for even just a couple minor hiccups throughout the week were insignificant look at she doesn't even take that look she's just it's all feel all feel for Mel. Impressive impressive in this first set as well 18-10. Deep heater from Savenia it's off the platform of Mel one dig she is not able to gather and I wonder if that was sort of an indecision as it looked I thought I had that swing going out and I think Mel maybe thought it was going out and decided to play it anyway. Nice deep float from Tillman run through and Mel one of the first errors first hitting error actually for both Mel and Brandy right there and it's a good thing to have all two of your mistakes come back you've already built an eight-point lead and you're just three away for the first set but the thing you want to try to make sure it doesn't happen is that you get lethargic and have that effort sort of bleed into the second set good hustle oh my good effort though from Canada keep that ball alive they're not going to get it back over and it's a serving of Tillman who's averaging two and a half aces for her match here and she's I mean I call that basically an ace so she's not going to be credited for it but she's already got two aces and so from the service line she's been dangerous it hasn't necessarily been the defensive germy that's been the problem they just haven't been able to figure out the riddle that is Canada's defense Mel trying to go to the high line a little too much sauce on that cuff so Canada giving up a bit of a run here take their time out and I think this is a wise time out maybe one point too late maybe one but I'm an advocate anybody who's listened to me ramble on on VBTV for long enough knows that I'm an advocate of the early time out but still no sweat for Mel and Brandy you're still up for the three points away from sealing this thing your offense has been totally fine and should it come down to it you can always lean on that defense which is the best I've seen from them maybe in their entire partnership this week yeah you said it some of the best defense we've seen from them nightmares to opponents 14 18 time out here Canada need to find that one side out he's dropping serve Mel here from the left she's gonna poke to the line good layout from Tillman she can't believe that ball didn't go where she wanted but unbelievable touch hey excellent touch from Senia and I like what Senia went with in her with her serve going down the middle down the middle down the middle typically when you go deep seam that's how you limit options the most because you get both players pinching in and Brandy can't kick out and go on too pass handled well Tillman there and that's the movement which makes Germany effective against a lot of teams especially against a big block like Brandy and Senia the way she runs her offense she'll stack up directly on Svenja and she can either dart to the left or dart to the right so as a blocker you have to pay attention and stick on your toes and even when you do get in front of it's still tough to stop perfect option low and it goes to the deep corner and this is the most aggressive I've seen Brandy be on to where it's almost as if she were too polite the first couple years of her partnership with Mel and she said I'll only take it if I have to but I trust you and now she's it's sort of like I'm the big time one of the best offensive players in the world yeah give me the rock it's at point number one for Canada and it's gonna be a block from Queen B herself and we might hear some chants for MVP pretty soon here for Queen B as she is just blocking everything on to setting perfect in transition but her and Mel right now on paper right everything makes perfect sense you have one of the best right side blockers on the planet right now if not the best right side blocker you have one of the the best left side defenders veteran had a ton of success but they have that intangible something with their chemistry that as I talk about Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brackner that two plus two is five and we're seeing a two plus two is six right now for Mel and Brandy I agree completely no hitting errors for Brady Wilkerson in this one she's got three kills she's got two aces she's got a couple blocks as well what can't she do right now is the question and how do you take her out of the game and you mentioned this earlier about trying to beat Mel maybe was trying to be Christian but trying to beat Mel instead of trying to beat Brandy uh and so let's see if Germany can just tidy up their side a little bit find some more points when it continues the crisp passing oh what a friendly bounce here for Canada but it's not going to come back over for contacts and one thing Mel's done a couple times is she still sent the fourth contact over just in case and Germany both times has sort of had this frantic glance at the ref yeah that's four whistle where's the whistle there it is out of the middle baby Cuddy kind of looking off Tillman there defensively and again has Mel done the same thing twice yet where there's that look away and super wrist away Cuddy believable what Brandy Wilkerson is doing from the end line and if you want thing to just pop off for a match or two this has been the whole week from Brandy option not good enough Brandy there the cut shot is dug from Tillman for Germany in transition and that's going to be perfectly out of reach of Melissa nice poison defense from Senya Tillman just waiting for Brandy to make a mistake and lo and behold she's human she does make a mistake getting that cut shot sort of right into her lap and then Senya capitalizing nicer from Tillman creates the overpass and a little dunk down Germany take one of their first lead to the match service pressure is what won Canada amongst many other variables but I think that was the biggest one that won them that opening set and service pressure from Germany I think is going to how they push this three and save from Brandy on that serve trying to poke it cut but it's the service pressure like you said trap and Brandy's been taking a healthy dose of seam this week if you get a look at where she's standing in service anything that's even remotely close to her she's stepping in but it does create a little bit of chaos Mel going with Brandy and she finds the block of Senya Mueller who gets on the board with her second block the sweetest sound in all of sports is a silent away crowd and Germany has silenced the 3500 strong here in Montreal then we'll switch sides no timeout needed for Canada tight ball with a freebie the way of Germany can they capitalize short poke good read from Melissa Tillman getting stuck about the net and now is going to tap it fast to the line but Senya's living with herself she knows that was a huge chance to expand that lead to four and everybody knows defenders at the net they're diving angle Mel knows it quick line's going to be open quite getting enough on that one as that goes into the net just the second service error from Melissa good movement on that serve Brandy with the cover second opportunity here in transition Svenja is turning into a bit of a beast right now at the net and she just takes her space and stays so disciplined discipline is the word I would use to describe Svenja's total game right now where she rarely tries to play outside of herself she takes her space she does her job she capitalizes on mistakes and that's why all of her numbers hit exactly what you'd want a blocker to be she gets her two blocks per set she has her side out percentage in the 65 to low 70s she's just becoming such a complete player Canada will now take their time out in this set for a nice run of points blocking defense and a little bit of service pressure being ramped up on the side of Germany and some coaches in the box new rule that we have we're testing out some new rules one of those coaches in the box can only talk to the teams to their teams in timeouts not on side changes not during plays so get to support these teams and in-game adjustments seven serving three set number two the women's gold medal match soft block going to be put up to Svenja and the tap down in that play right there is the bread and butter of Germany and Sydney is getting so effective at lobbing that soft block setup and getting it high enough for the six foot force of any to just be able to sort of pat it wherever she wants Tillman left Canada off the hook with that miss serve and in a way she did but what got them there was service pressure in the first place and so I think there are certain misses that are I call them worthy misses and I think that falls into that category Svenja out wide and that is a brilliant angle touching that ball before Brandon can get her mitts on it just that sharp angle fighting the perimeters of the court big smooth swing from Svenja and they lost their first set earlier today too wasn't a problem no going overhead with that tough serve trying to go to a little baby cut catching the tape I think a lot of teams who are watching this match right now are taking note that deep middle is becoming a an effective service strategy for Germany Canada down 4-10 crowd trying to provide a little energy boost for their squad this ball on the lap of Melissa cross cross cross you can hear Brandy from the booth good dialogue good dialogue perfect shot there for Mel just taking what's easy but now the pressure is on Canada to generate a couple points and we'll see if Mel can keep up that service pressure that she did in the opening set we haven't seen her bring it a ton in this second Svenja can you say dialed in her passing and in her offense that one tag in the back line just absolutely perfect because that was what Mel wanted she wanted that high line that was the play that they called it for but lines work and when you tag that high deep line even when they're running that late angle block it's going to work dropping float from Tillman that's a fast line from Melissa yeah Mel's seeing Svenja's high line raising her an even faster one that's her floating Svenja's gonna take it cross court and Brandon a little quiet at the net but she gets right back in it with a monster block the queen bee Brandy Wilkerson start neutral throwing those hands up into the angle beautifully done the question is that press in Canada compound and maybe find another one here Svenja line Mel is there poke over you got it into the corner for Brandy examining Svenja's troubleshooting pattern has been a point of interest as she got blocked in the angle tries the line and Canada was ready for it they called for that exact play right there and Mel scooped it lifted and Brandy always ready on two that floats her into the net for Brandy looking for that 9-12 technical they will get it much better as you know as a player and a coach 13-8 a little bit of a mental challenge compared to 9-12 at 12-9 what do you think is a more dangerous lead 12-9 or 15-13 what i think is more dangerous yeah comfortable it should be ours and man that can melt away you get a side up triculation we're only up one now yeah 15-13 too that is uh not a fun score i think 12-9 it just you're in that comfort zone right but you still got to keep that that pedal down to the floor and sometimes you can see teams get a little bit relaxed i don't think we'll see any relaxation in a gold medal match but 12-9 i just see it as a dangerous lead yeah a little false confidence maybe for a 12-9 score for the team that has 12 but like you said this is the gold medal match of our elite event these teams have to put on the gas all the time looking for some fingertips she's not gonna find it make it 12-10 i don't know if there's another female blocker in the world that can make the move that brandy just did she left so much line open baiting that swing and she took all of it away back to spania they go there it is again the three block works perfectly mel cuddy tillman is there tillman in transition she fires one right up the gut and that's the second time we've seen that pattern now from savannah line doesn't work she goes back into the angle and i think canada's starting to dial into that now i think mel was expecting brandy to take that on too and she didn't back up and give herself that full approach and so that's a very good break for germany middle middle serve again getting both canadian players to collapse in the middle and this is the strategy that we saw nina brunner and tanya herbally deploy against kelly chang in the coach and syracuse in the olympics where they just went angle middle middle middle and it just all but negates the threat of the option real nightmare as a passing team to deal good swing from wilkerson slapping it cross court that hand on ball contact was perfect there's just certain acoustics it just sounds nice in sports a plushly hit golf ball a swish and basketball and that perfect hand on ball right there just a nice sound nice float serve and the option from tillman you don't see the odds from tillman too much that is perfect timing a really nice option but again i just want to laud the passing of savannah miller that was a filthy serve that she just dimed to the point that her partner could take it on too comfortable yeah rock solid and serve receive has been left left the call from mel that's a big swing for brandy brandy's vision has come quite a long way and not saying that it was ever bad but now it is elite where this was just such an easy shot for her to make she gets that big look at the bottom she knows what's open fine dig from mel mel in transition back to the line she goes pinpoint accuracy from elizabeth monobredis and the opportunities are piling up for canada for conversions as first ball side outs aside from that tillman option they've been limited for germany so again that defense talked about a lot defense travels best teams in the world best defensive teams in the team 13 years that score we were talking about good lift on that pass from spania perfect short poke over the top of the block of brandy i love that shot from savannah especially with the size of the moves that brandy's making it makes it pretty difficult to come down and then make that play at the bottom and look at this move from brandy she goes so far lateral and it's just such a difficult play for her to make to come down tons of athleticism there from wilkerson it's off block from spania chippy to the over good control from canada smooth smooth smooth operator put that on to his brandy wilkerson just taking what's easy not trying to do too much of it conserving 16. and that option from spania goes into the tape so a break there for canada and canada was down 10-5 and it hasn't been a big run right it's just been a side out earn here and a side out and earn there and now they're back within one slowly chipping away option is dug from mel fake option from brandy overpass hammer from wilkerson and here's that canadian defense we have talked about all week long most days in the match melissa maravarez most blocks for a match brandy wilkerson and right now their serving is coming up the defense is coming up it's just so difficult to sustain it's a lot of pressure yeah we talk about the need to be perfect when you're playing such a good defensive team and they're putting so much pressure on you and that is what germany is feeling right now and tillman had an option kill a few points ago that went down she tries to go right back to it but mel slides in perfectly into the line for the scoop and then the over dig from tillman who's had a couple touches that she'd like back that's one of them maple leaves everywhere man if they win this this is free syrup for everyone for a year i'd love some free syrup thank you does that include us our voices are going to need it just a few matches for us in the booth but we love it volleyball fans we love it 16 all oh another one hey let's say 11 sixth run for canada after going down 10 five puts them up by one as we get closer and closer and closer to another montreal gold medal taking that pass in the middle there's an aggressive rip and spenny fired up love to see it brandy almost made that double move back to the line too she jumped into the angle and i think she saw savannah's shoulders twitched just a little bit to that line and she tried to reach back and grab it but the swing from savannah was too good that ball had zero spin on it from muller what a knuckle from mel over the top the inside out pokey back to the line for mel that was some magic right there from humana but it is and you're going to work into the middle and that is called a lift travis your face what are you feeling i'm feeling it's 18 17 in a gold medal match we haven't called a lift the whole match it's just not it's not bad enough at this juncture of the most important match it's tough heartbreak there for germany can they reset pretty much the same ball from tillman open net from brandy spania gonna slide and chip out of bounds what an incredible run from mel and brandy you go down 5 10 and the gold team to seven run to give yourselves three gold medal points at home here in montreal first gold medal point not yet taken tillman there with the option kill and there is not a seat being taken right now in montreal we got 3500 people on their feet sir from tillman oh my that one drops perfectly in the corner tillman taking some chances wow what a clutch serve from savannah from senior tillman second gold medal point here for melissa chipping line tillman waiting for it what a hand dig from brandy oh my tillman says we're not done yet my goodness apparently you can't spell clutch without sinya because this is just ridiculous the reaching diving direct deposit to save the match all tied up again mel out wide and that one is gonna drop what a shot from mel and you can see it on her face that was a long slow exhale for mel after that one as she that stutter step step goes set a little bit far outside and tracks it and then this is just a hold your breath and hope it's in tagline perfect another gold medal point for canada shorty jump serve spenny out wide that's gonna do it