Camille Saxton blocks an attack from Whitney Pavlik ©FIVB

Canadians Julie Gordon and Camille Saxton remain on course to win their second consecutive International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach World Tour stage in Australia as they reached the semi-finals in Sydney.

Earlier this month, the duo were the overall victors at the event held in Shepparton and at the latest leg today on Manly Beach, they progressed into the final four.

In tricky weather conditions, with strong winds blowing and heavy rainfall, Gordon and Saxton had to make it through a three set encounter first up in the round of 16.

Whitney Pavlik and Amanda Dowdy of the United States took the first 24-22, but their opponents found their way through in the next two with scores of 21-16 and 15-13 in a match that lasted 50 minutes.

Their quarter-final was an easier affair as they defeated another US pair, Kimberly Dicello and Emily Stockman, 21-16, 23-21.

Facing them in the semi-finals will be Australians and the tournament’s top seeds Louise Bawden and Nicole Laird.

Their path to the final four saw them beat Germany’s Leonie Kortzinger and Sandra Seyfferth 21-17, 21-16 before ousting compatriots Alice and Johannah Rohkamper in a thrilling three set match, eventually winning 23-25, 21-15, 15-12.

The other semi-final will feature the runners-up from Shepparton after Germany’s Anni Schumacher and Kim Behrens battled their way through.

Jessyka Ngauamo spikes the ball past a block during the match against Vanuatu's Loti Joe and Linline Matauatu ©FIVB
Jessyka Ngauamo spikes the ball past a block during the match against Vanuatu's Loti Joe and Linline Matauatu ©FIVB

They made light work of New Zealand’s Julia Tilley and Alice Bain with a 21-17, 21-12 victory in their first match of the day.

However, they were then involved in the day’s longest match as they were on the sand for 56 minutes against Japan’s Sayaka Mizoe and Suzuka Hashimoto.

The Germans claimed the opening set 21-16 before Mizoe and Hashimoto forced a deciding by taking the second 21-17.

In the third set, Schumacher and Behrens were close to being knocked out by the Asian duo as they led 14-11.

But they were pegged back by their opponents and eventually Mizoe and Hashimoto succumbed to Schumacher and Behrens with the final set finishing 18-16.

Awaiting them in the semis will be Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Jessyka Ngauamo of Australia.

The beat Vanuatu’s Loti Joe and Linline Matauatu 21-12, 21-12 in the round of 16 before having to get through two tie-breakers against fellow Australians Phoebe Bell and Becchara Palmer.

Eventually, Del Solar and Ngauamo won the clash 23-25, 22-20, 15-10.

Tomorrow will see the semi-finals, third-place play-off and final all contested.