Praia Clube de Uberlândia beat Minas Tênis Clube by 3 sets to 0 (29/27, 25/21 and 25/13) and won the women’s volleyball Superliga this Sunday (3), in a packed Ibirapuera gym, in São Paulo. It was the team’s third title, also champion in the 2017/18 and 2022/23 seasons.
The winning team’s campaign was anything but peaceful and can be personified in one figure: setter Macris.
One of the best in her position for at least a decade, she was not at her best technical level throughout the qualifying phase. She was even benched by Portuguese coach Rui Moreira, who earned boos from the fans for doing so.
Macris, however, grew throughout the championship, as did the entire beach team. Even hampered by injuries and the sudden retirement of central Carol Gattaz, the team evolved. The backcourt, with libero Natinha and experienced winger Michelle, became the most consistent in the competition.
Up front, Olympic champion center Adenizia —voted the best player of the tournament—, winger Payton Caffrey and opposite Mongan Fingall were very efficient. All this passing through the hands of Macris, nicknamed “Fairy”.
The evolution was evident in the knockout stages, especially in the semi-final clashes with Sesi-Flamengo, leader of the qualifying phase – Praia was fourth.
Even after this triumph, the final presented a great challenge. The team had not yet beaten Minas this season. There were four games, four defeats and only one set won. None of that mattered this Sunday.
Caffrey finished as the match’s top scorer, with 15 points. Michelle was voted best in the game.
How was the final
The first set was defined by errors at decisive moments. Very balanced until halfway through, the match began to lean towards the beach side through the defensive system: serve and block.
Hillary Johnson, Minas’ Canadian winger, suffered a lot in the reception, compromising the team’s quick game. Unable to score by working with high balls, the Belo Horizonte team saw its rival from Uberlândia lead 20 to 16. The advantage, however, was short-lived.
In an inspired passage by Priscila Daroit on duty, Minas sought a draw, and the dispute ended point by point. Errors, however, decided the partial: a touch on the net by setter Julia Nowicka and an invasion by central Júlia Kudiess gave the set to Praia: 29 to 27.
The second half felt different. The Minastenist group came in very aggressive and, apparently, more consistent. The offensive system, passing and attacking, worked well. With that, the team managed to take a 14-10 lead, thanks to the energetic central defender Thaísa, owner of two Olympic titles, as well as a bronze, and the omnipresent libero Nyeme.
The Bahia street team’s moment, however, was short-lived. Through the hands of their point guards, Michelle Pavão and Payton Caffrey, Praia scored eight consecutive points to turn the set around, 25-21.
The third set was all or nothing for Minas. Italian coach Lorenzo Pintus’ team started well and kept the game equal until 10-10, but stopped. Abusing errors in attack, the team watched the opponent open, open and open.
The Minas Gerais technical committee did little to change the scenario. He just tried to change the setter Nowicka for Fran, who abused low balls to Thaísa. The Russian opposite Mariia Khaleyskaya was not efficient, the tips just dropped. In the end, 25 to 13 and the third Superliga title for Praia Clube de Uberlândia.
