Olympians shine as Praia top Minas for the fifth time

Dentil Praia Clube continue to reign supreme in the Brazilian women’s volleyball derby as the Uberlandia-based side defeated in-state rivals and fellow 2021 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship participants Itambe Minas for the fifth time in the 2021-2022 club season on Monday.

Praia came out on top of the second meeting between the teams in the Superliga and, playing at home, the reigning South American champions triumphed in a five-set (25-20, 17-25, 15-25, 25-21, 15-10) battle to solidify their status as the top-ranked team in the country. The other victories all came in finals, with Praia claiming titles at the South American Championship, the Brazilian Supercup and the Mineiro Championship.

Praia are clear at the top of the standings with 43 points (15 wins, one loss) and have now a ten-point advantage over second-placed Minas, who moved up to 33 (11 wins, three losses).

Without star Dominican opposite Brayelin Martinez, Praia relied on the talent and experience of the other Olympians in their roster. Her sister, middle blocker Jineiry Martinez, led the team’s scoring efforts with 16 points (12 kills, four blocks) and was awarded as the Player of the Match while Dutch outside hitter Anne Buijs added 14 (13 kills, one ace) and Tokyo silver medalist Ana Carolina ‘Carol’ da Silva came off the bench to tally 11 (seven kills, three blocks, one ace).

“We’ve been struggling with the absence of some of our most important players recently,” Jineiry reflected after the match. “Winning tonight was amazing and it gives us the confidence to keep pushing. It was a very important result and we have to keep playing the way we did tonight.”

Tokyo silver medallist Macris Carneiro was a key player in Minas’ good performance as the setter’s exceptional distribution kept the team in the game. Minas had the three top scorers in the match in opposite Kisy Cesario, with 22 points (19 kills, two blocks, one ace), and outside hitters Neriman Ozsoy, with 21 (20 kills, one block), and Pri Daroit, with 18 (all in kills).

Both teams will be back on the court on Friday when Praia plays on the road against Unilife Maringa and Minas hosts Curitiba Volei in Belo Horizonte.