The winners of nine editions of the Superliga, Minas are currently in fourth place in the standings, with 22 points (seven wins, five losses). Ranking higher right now are only leaders Sada Cruzeiro, with 32 points, second-placed Vôlei Renata Campinas, with 30, and third-placed Praia Clube, with 26 - all three teams have ten wins and two losses.
Minas' current positioning, which would give them homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, is very different than the one they had at the start of their campaign. With five losses in their first six matches, they were inside the relegation zone before starting the current run at the beginning of December and getting to fight in the upper half of the table instead.
A product of their highly-regarded youth system, 21-year-old opposite Samuel Neufeld has emerged as one of the main names in their reaction and is their leading scorer in the Superliga with 150 points. Bringing experience to the team are Iranian national team setter Javad Karimisouchelmaei and veteran middle blocker Michel Saraiva.
