The Brazilian team played this weekend the second stage of the Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.
Were three games in front of the yellow green crowd in the sold out Ibirapuera Gymnasium. With a lot of noise, they were the sixth player on court. And the brazilians gave to their fans a perfect weekend.
On
Friday the hosts faced Belgium that makes its debut this season in
the elite group of the Grand Prix. The newcomers started strong,
opening 4-0 with good combination of service and blocking. The
Brazilian girls couldn't find their game and the Belgians went to the
first technical timeout ahead in 8x4. Brazil came back better and
gradually was seeking the difference to close the second technical
timeout in 16 x 14. The Belgians managed to score three more times,
but saw Brazil close the set in 25x17.
After a sleepy beginning, Brazil gave no chances to Belgium and won the following sets in 25x16 and 25x14, closing the match in 3 sets to 0, in 1h and 27 min.
In
the second confrontation Brazilian received Thailand and the visitors
gave them a hard time. The thai came willing to recover the points
lost to Brazil in the first stage of the Grand Prix.
The first set was very balanced, with both teams alternating on ahead. Brazil led 24 x 23 when Carol finished the first set in 25x23 with a beautiful ace.The second set started in the same tone of the previous, the two teams alternating on the scoreboard. Thailand took the lead after the first technical timeout and gave no chances to the Brazil, closing the set in 25x20. After the ice bucket, the Brazilians returned more concentrated and had no difficulty to close the following two sets in 25x14 and 25x19, and the match in 3 sets to 1, in 1 hour and 57min.
In
the last confrontation of the stage, the Brazilian faced the good
German team and despite the 3 sets to 0, had to play hardball to get
the three points. The game was very tight, the teams where tied for
attack points (38) and defense (44), but in the blocks (15-12) and
points assigned by errors (16-22) Brazil was better and beat Germany
in 26x24, 25x22 and 26x24, to the delight of the yellow green crowd.
With the results Brazil is qualified for the finals of the Grand Prix which will be played in the United States.
On Sunday the Brazilian team was splitted into two groups, the first, who has the athletes Adenízia, Ana Tiemi, Angelica Maliverno, Barbara, Camila Brait, Fe Garay, Jaqueline, Joyce Gomes Macris, Mari Paraíba, Michelle Pavão, Rosamaria and coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes, goes to Toronto to compete in the Pan American Games. The second, which will be led by assistant coach Paulo Coco, follows in the running of the Grand Prix and has the athletes: Carol, Dani Lins, Ellen Braga, Gabi, Ivana, Juciely, Léia, Mara Leão, Mayhara, Monique Pavão, Natalia, Roberta , Suelle and Sassá.
