Sesc-Flamengo sets the pace, plays flawlessly and beats Praia Clube in the Superliga semi-finals | volleyball

Sesc-Flamengo had a flawless run Friday night and beat Praia Clube, in Uberlândia, by 3 sets to 0 in the first leg of the Women’s Superliga semi-finals. Rubro-Negro set the pace in Arena Praia on a Roni and Setter Brie King inspired night. If the absolute leader of the qualifying stage fluctuated in the match, Sesc-Flamengo did not lose pace, winning parts 25/20, 25/21 and 25/22, and brought it 1 to 0 in the best of three semi-final series.

Setter Brie King was named best of the match and was awarded the Viva Vôlei Trophy. The second match will be played on April 25, at 6:30 pm, at the Tijuca Gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro. If the series is tied, game three will be on April 28, at 6:30 PM, in Arena Praia.

Praia Clube started with a strong play size in defense and, with the support of the fans, was the first team to open three points with Brayelin Martínez: 5 to 2. Sesc-Flamengo, with patience, with Rooney’s strength and Michel Peacock’s precision, did not let the home team open. On Sabrina’s through serve, she turned the game around with three points followed by Michelle. The pass of the Minas Gerais team did not reach Claudinha, and the team of Robro Negro took advantage and opened up two points. The difference could not have been greater thanks to Braylin Martinez who made the difference: blocking, attacking, scoring points and Minas Gerais equalizing. Robro-Negro dictated speed on the serve and held the Praia Club defence. With a well-designed net, impeccable coverage and precise decisions by designer Brie King, Sesc-Flamengo opened up the biggest advantage between the two teams in the group: 21 to 15. Paulo Cocu tried to reverse, substitute and do everything, but mine missed too. Flamengo who closed in on a Rooney attack: 25 to 20.

The second part started evenly. Praia Clube improved on serve, on the counterattacks and opened up a two-point lead, 9-7, at the pace of Anne Buijs. Rubro-Negro used the same recipe that made the team grow at the crucial moment in the competition moving forward. He returned to normalize the service rhythm in the match, opening three points: 19 to 16. Minas Gerais responded in the same way. Paulo put Coco Arrian on serve, and when she passed, Praia Club turned the game around: 20 to 19. Robro Negro kept his focus and once again relied on Bri King’s inspiration to turn around and close the set at 25 to 21.

The Minas Gerais team opened 4-1 at the start of the group and it shows that they wanted to go for victory to survive the encounter. Bernardinho called a time out, so Rio got up and touched the scoreboard. But Praia Club’s save worked and opened four points: 7 to 3. That was when the serve again appeared on the Rio side and Cesc Flamengo again touched the scoreboard: 10 to 9. Brayelin Martínez saved a ball outside the attack, Tainara stopped at the block. Paulo Coco put Vanessa Yankee on the court, Bree King served her twice, scored two points and tipped the partial. The Canadian continued to serve after seven points from Robro Negro, who made the score 20 to 15. When the Minas Gerais team looked defeated, he reacted. Michelle Pavao had to exploit the block, closing out the set at 25/22 and the game at 3 sets to 0.