Mazatlan, Mexico, June 23, 2012 – Canada women sealed their spot at the beach volleyball tournament of the London Olympic Games by sweeping hosts Mexico 3-0 in front of a packed stadium in Mazatlan on Saturday.

Heather Bansley and Elizabeth Maloney paved the Canadian road to London with a 2-0 (21-12, 21-14) victory over the local pair of Vanessa Virgen and Martha Revuelta. Teammates Annie Martin and Marie Andree Lessard then took over following with victories over Mayra Garcia/Bibi Candelas 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-12) and 2-0 (21-14, 21-14) against Virgen/Revuelta.

“It is like a dream coming true,” Maloney said after the victory. “We are very happy about going to the beach volleyball tournament of the Olympics.”

“It is great to qualify to the Olympics,” Bansley added. “It has been a lot of fun here and we kept our game plan.”

Mexico and Puerto Rico will stay in contention for the last two tickets to London at the World Cup Olympic Qualification Tournament in Moscow, Russia from June 27 to July 1.

In the battle for third place, Puerto Rico’s Yarleen Santiago and Yamileska Yantin outdueled Costa Rica’s Ingrid Morales and Natalia Alfaro 16-14.

Saturday’s results

Puerto Rico 2, El Salvador 0
PUR-B d. ESA-A (21-17, 21-17)
PUR-A d. ESA-B (21-7, 21-12)

Costa Rica 2, Cuba 1
CRC-A d. CUB-B (18-21, 21-17, 15-13)
CUB-A d. CRC-B (21-10, 21-14)
CRC-A d. CUB-B (15-12)

Third Place

Puerto Rico 2, Costa Rica 1
PUR-A d. CRC-B (21-10, 21-10)
CRC-A d. PUR-B (21-0, 21-0)
PUR-A d. CRC-A (16-14)

First Place

Canada 3, Mexico 0
CAN-A d. MEX-B (21-12, 21-14)
CAN-B d. MEX-A (21-18, 16-21, 15-12)
CAN-B d. MEX-B (21-14, 21-14)*

*Qualified to the Olympic Games