Bulgarian international Maria Koleva and her Dentil Praia Clube took a decisive first step towards the final of the Brazilian Women's Superliga, after convincingly defeating Sesc Flamengo 3:0 (25:22, 25:23, 25:17) in the first semi-final clash.
The match, played at the UTC hall in Uberlândia, was under the control of the hosts, who demonstrated stability in all elements. Praia Clube dictated the pace in the key moments of the first two sets, and in the third, left no doubt about their superiority.
The top scorer in the match was middle blocker Adenízia with 14 points, while Michelle Pavão and Peyton Caffrey added 12 points each. Koleva did not appear in the rotation.
For Sesc Flamengo, the main attacking burden fell on Tainara, who finished with 12 points, but her efforts were not enough against the opponent's well-organized block and defense.
With this success, the team from Uberlândia took a 1-0 lead in the series and is now just one victory away from qualifying for the final. The second match is scheduled for April 17 in Rio de Janeiro, where Sesc Flamengo will seek a mandatory win to stay in the game.
Semi-final Series Schedule
Praia Clube – Sesc Flamengo
Match 1: 3:0(25:22,25:23,25:17)
Match 2: April 17, 9:00 PM – Maracanãzinho
Match 3: April 24 (if necessary)
The winning start gives a significant psychological advantage to Maria Koleva and her teammates, who seem increasingly closer to the grand final of the championship.
photo: BrunoCunha_Foto
