Minas rise to the top of the Superliga standings

A changing of the guard took place during the seventh leg of the second round of the 2025-2026 Brazilian Women's Superliga regular season, with Gerdau Minas passing SESC RJ Flamengo and rising to the top of the standings.

The Belo Horizonte side went on the road against seventh-placed Sancor Maringá Vôlei on Thursday and recovered from a first-set loss to come back and triumph 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-15), earning their sixth-straight victory.

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The victory got Minas up to 47 points (16 wins, two losses), one more than Flamengo, which occupied the top of the standings since mid-December and played their seventh-leg match ahead of time in January. The two teams are set to meet in the eighth leg on March 6.

Canadian national team outside hitter Hilary Johnson led Minas to victory with 18 points (15 kills, three blocks) and earned the match's MVP award. Star middle blocker Júlia Kudiess, also did well, adding 17 points with nine kills, four blocks, and four aces.

"It was a really challenging match," Johnson said. "Maringá had been playing very well, and they had great support from their fans. It was very hot in the gym, but I tried to do my best and am happy for having helped the team. I'm proud of our teamwork."

Opposite Jaque Schmitz led Maringá with 12 points (ten kills, two aces), two more than middle blocker Ana Gabriela Marcelin and Andressa Picussa.

Opposite Jaque Schmitz led Maringá with 12 points (ten kills, two aces), two more than middle blocker Ana Gabriela Marcelin and Andressa Picussa.

Praia win and go up to third place

Three more matches were held on Friday and in one of them, Dentil Praia Clube defeated eighth-placed Batavo Mackenzie 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-20) on the road and got to 39 points, moving up to third place in the standings.

Sitting at the bottom of the standings, Renasce Sorocaba earned their first victory in the season, beating 11th-placed Tijuca Tênis Clube 3-2 (25-23, 20-25, 25-17, 15-25, 15-12) at home. The day also had sixth-placed Fluminense sweeping (25-15, 25-18, 25-21) ninth-placed Paulistano Barueri on the road.

Fourth-placed Osasco São Cristovão Saúde and fifth-placed SESI Vôlei Bauru are in Lima competing in the Women's Club South American Championship this week and played their  Superliga matches against Flamengo and Brasília Vôlei in advance.

Superliga Feminina - Tabela & Resultados

The Superliga will take a break next weekend for the Final Four of the Brazilian Cup, which will reunite Minas, Praia, Flamengo and Osasco in Londrina on February 27-28. After that, action resumes on March 5, with the start of the eighth leg.

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