With two key aces in the money time of the tie-breaker, sub-in server Priscilla Daroit stamped Brazil’s ticket to next year’s Olympic Games as the South American team overcame hosts Japan in five sets in the last match of the FIVB Road to Paris Volleyball Qualifier in Tokyo on Sunday to join Pool B winners Türkiye on the way to Paris 2024.
Volleyball Olympic Qualifying Tournament
Pri Daroit stamps Brazil’s ticket to Paris
The South Americans snatch five-set victory over Japan in Sunday’s decider
Published 01:23, 24 Sept 2023
Triumphant Rosamaria, Gabi and Pri Daroit
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Brazil will compete at the Olympic Games for the 12th consecutive time since their debut at Moscow 1980. In their previous 11 appearances they have collected two Olympic titles (Beiing 2008 and London 2012), one silver medal (Tokyo 2020) and two bronze medals (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000).
In a winner-takes-all encounter, Japan and Brazil engaged in an epic five-set battle. The Asians came back from a set down twice in the match before the South Americans could step in front again in the tie-breaker to claim a victory and, with that, the second place in the final pool standings on a 6-1 win-loss record and 16 points, leaving Japan below the cut-off line, in third on 5-2 and 15.
Each of the first three sets in itself offered the fans plenty of nail-biting drama and was decided only in the last rallies. With their backs against the wall, Japan completely dominated a one-sided fourth set to push the match to five. The South Americans stormed the tie-breaker on a 3-0 run, but the home team gradually fought their way back to a 10-10 level. Brazil broke away again and after running off with a 12-10 lead, Pri Daroit came in for the serve. She immediately added another point to Brazil’s advantage with a clean ace. Then a kill block by Rosamaria Montibeller brought in match point, converted by Pri Daroit herself with another ace for 15-10.
While Japan did better than Brazil in serving (8-4 in aces) and in attack (68-66 in spike kills), the South Americans slightly outblocked their opponents (13-12 in stuffs) and showed better accuracy (18-21 in unforced errors). Brazilian star outside hitter and captain Gabriela Guimaraes was above all in scoring. She contributed 23 points, including an ace, towards the victory. Outside Julia Bergmann added another 15, while middle blocker Thaisa Menzes and opposite Rosamaria Montibeller finished with 13 points apiece. Captain Sarina Koga and Kotona Hayashi led Japan with 18 points each.
Türkiye, who booked their trip to Paris on Saturday, made sure they finished their qualifying campaign undefeated. On Sunday, the reigning Volleyball Nations League and European champions mastered a shutout of Belgium to top the final pool standings on a 7-0 win-loss record and 21 points. In only three sets of play, Türkiye’s star opposite Melissa Vargas hammered out the match high of 20 points, including four kill blocks and an ace, followed by outside hitters Derya Cebecioglu with 14 points and Hande Baladin with 10, while none of Belgium’s players reached the double digits. The Belgians finished the tournament in sixth place on 2-5 and 6.
In the first match of the last competition day in Tokyo, Puerto Rico celebrated a victory over Bulgaria to take fourth place in the final standings on 4-3 and 11 and leave their European opponents in seventh on 1-6 and 5. Puerto Rican opposite Brittany Abercrombie topped the charts with 21 points, including two aces and two blocks, followed by teammates Alondra Vazquez with 16 points and Pilar Victoria with 14.
Then, Peru earned their first point of the tournament, but stopped short of earning their first win and finished bottom of the table. They had a one-set lead twice in their South American clash with Argentina, but the opponents came back to claim a victory. Outside Daniela Bulaich led the winners with 15 points, including an ace, while Peruvian opposite Maria Paula Rodriguez delivered the match high of 20 points, including four kill blocks.
