TLAXCALA, Mexico - Former Golden Hawks men's volleyball player Sam Schachter is returning to the Olympic Games.
The 34-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., who made his Summer Games debut eight years ago in Rio 2016, won the last-chance NORCECA Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualification in Tlaxcala, Mexico with teammate Daniel Dearing on Sunday.
Schachter, who played for two years with the Golden Hawks from 2008-2010, and Dearing came into the competition ranked 24th in the world. They won all six matches in straight sets to book their spot in Paris this July.
They defeated the Mexican duo of Juan Virgen and Ricardo Galindo to clinch it.
Schachter and the 34-year-old Dearing will be the only Canadian beach volleyball team competing for the men in Paris.
The Laurier alum finished 19th in his Olympic debut eight years ago with former partner Josh Binstock. Dearing will compete at the Games for the first time.
Schachter had a decorated two-year career with the Golden Hawks before pursuing his dream of playing for the national team following the 2009-10 season.
In his rookie year, he was named the OUA Rookie of the Year and a member of the CIS All-Rookie Team. He also took home Laurier's Rich Newbrough Rookie of the Year award as the top male rookie at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Preliminary beach volleyball matches in Paris begin on Saturday, July 27 with the men's gold medal match set for Saturday, August 10.
