The Women's Volleyball Club World Championship started at Arena Pacaembu in Sao Paulo with the fully expected dominance of Brazilian and Italian teams.
In the opening match of Group B, Dentil Praia Clube (Brazil) faced no difficulties against Egyptian Zamalek and won 3:0 (25:11, 25:17, 25:15). The top scorer was outside hitter Maria Koleva with 13 points.
The Brazilian team outperformed their Egyptian opponent in all metrics – from serves (4:1 aces) and blocks (8:5) to attack efficiency, where the difference was most striking: 52 successful attacks versus only 27 for Zamalek.
The significant lead allowed head coach Rui Moreira to extensively rotate the squad. Two of the reserves became leading scorers. Maria Koleva, who joined at the end of the first set, scored 13 points – all in attack with an excellent 65% efficiency, including the last point in the opening set. Middle blocker Milka Marcilia Medeiros Silva, who appeared at the start of the second set, added 12 points with an impressive 92% success rate in attack and one saved block.
Opposite hitter Monique Marinho Pavão ended the second set with an attack, and later finished the match with a precise hit in an out-of-bounds situation, totaling 8 points. For Zamalek, the top scorer was 21-year-old opposite hitter Tokaalla Issa (Toka) with 11 points.
In the same group, Italian giant Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano, led by Brazilian star Gabi Guimarães, also achieved a decisive 3:0 (25:14, 25:13, 25:19) victory against American Orlando Valkyries. The top scorer was Swedish opposite hitter Isabelle Haak with 21 points.
In Group A, Savino Del Bene Scandicci (Italy) faced slightly more serious resistance but still overcame Kazakhstan's Zhetysu with a 3:0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:20) victory. Italian national player Antropova finished with 19 points. The round concluded with a clear victory for Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde against Alianza Lima (Peru) – 3:0 (25:14, 25:17, 25:18), led by Argentine opposite hitter Bianca Cugno, who scored 17 points.
The schedule for Wednesday (December 10) includes four matches:
- 10:00 AM: Praia Clube – Valkyries (USA)
- 1:30 PM: Zhetysu (KAZ) – Alianza Lima (PER)
- 5:00 PM: Conegliano (ITA) – Zamalek (EGY)
- 8:30 PM: Osasco – Scandicci (ITA)
Photos:volleyballworld.com
