2017-2018 BRAZILIAN WOMEN’S SUPERLIGA
- 10/15 – 03/02 – Regular Season
- Official League Site
- Teams
- Schedule
- Power Rankings
- Round 1; Round 2; Round 3; Round 4; Round 5; Round 6; Round 7; Round 8; Round 9; Round 10; Round 11
- Round 12; Round 13; Round 14; Round 15; Round 16; Round 17; Round 18; Round 19; Round 20; Round 21
Superliga’s regular season is over, and its last round was as every bit as exciting as all its previous ones. Uberlândia secured its regular season with an amazing 21-2 record and only 13 sets lost in the competition’s first phase. This is the first time a team aside from Rio de Janeiro or Osasco wins Superliga’s regular season in at least 12 years (that is how far back the competition’s website and Wikipedia keeps Superliga’s stats) .
Pinheiros clinched the playoff’s 8th seed, leaving São Caetano out at the last minute, even though the latter finished the competition with a 10-12 record, better than Pinheiro’s 9-13 and Bauru‘s 7-15 records. The difference? Five of Pinheiro’s and eight of Bauru‘s losses came at tie-breaks, allowing both teams to to sum up precious points little by little and overtake São Caetano in the final standings.
Team USA Watch
Destine Hooker had a solid game against Valinhos, which is not to say much, as the team was one of the clubs relegated in this season’s Superliga. Hooker scored 19 points on 16/27 (59%) hitting. Sonja Newcombe continued her woes, scoring only one point in 1/9 hitting.
Nicole Fawcett and Carli Lloyd went head to heat this round, as Uberlândia defeated Barueuri. Fawcett had a tough day from the attack line, scoring 18 points on 10/29 (34%) hitting, but her 4 blocks and 4 aces more than made up for it. Lloyd, on the other hand, had her worst game since arriving in Barueri, but this was to be expected, as Uberlândia is the toughest team she faced with her new club so far. The team hit 35% with her on the offensive command, and is now 5-2 with Team USA’s starting setter on the court. But, mostly important, Barueri won a set in the game, which was all it needed to secure the competition’s 5th playoff seed.
Recaps
In a delayed game from last round, Dentil Praia Clube/Uberlândia lost its first match of the season, to Sesc/RJ, 3-2 (24/26 18/25 25/17 25/16 6/15). Gabriela Guimarães led the way with 18 points for Sesc, while Nicole Fawcett scored 25 points in the losing effort. Regardless of the result, the two sets won by Uberlândia secured it the single point it needed to clinch the competition’s regular season.
It is also worth noting that Fernanda Garay and Walewska Menezes did not dress up for the game, as they were treating injuries. Both of them should be completely recovered for the playoffs.
One week later, Uberlandia recovered by beating Hinode/Barueri 3-1 (22/25 10/25 25/21 14/25) behind Ellen Braga’s 22 points on 20/36 (56%) hitting. Katarzyna Skowronska had 17 points in the losing effort. Uberlândia outhit Barueri 44% to 35% while also being gifted 26 points from errors.
- Esporte Clube Pinheiros beat Brb/Brasília Vôlei 3-0 (25/18 25/23 27/25) behind Bruna Honório‘s 16 points. Aline Silva scored 14 points in the losing effort. Pinheiros out-hit Brasília 44% to 36%, while also being gifted 27 points from errors.
- São Cristóvão Saúde/São Caetano beat Vôlei Bauru 3-1 (28/26 19/25 25/21 29/27) behind Fernanda Tomé’s 18 points. Tifanny Abreu scored 22 points in the losing effort. Despite outhitting São Caetano 48% to 41%, Bauru was out-blocked 19 to 11 by São Caetano.
- Camponesa/Minas beat Renata Country/Valinhos 3-0 (13/25 15/25 15/25) behind Destinee Hooker‘s 18 points on 16/27 (59%) hitting. Natália Fernandes scored 8 points in the losing effort. Minas outhit Valinhos 56% to 27%.
- Fluminense beat 3-1 (27/29 16/25 25/22 20/25) behind Thais Souza‘s 18 points. Nikolle Correa scored 15 points in the losing effort.
- Sesc/RJ beat Vôlei Nestlé 3-1 (13/25 26/24 25/22 25/21). The game’s stat-sheet has not been published by the competition’s website.
Team of the Week: Uberlândia
Here is a fun fact. Superliga’s website keeps stats from the competition’s last 12 seasons. Since them, no team that is not named either Rio de Janeiro or Osasco has won the competition’s regular season. Uberlândia broke the streak this year, which is a merit in its own.
Rio and Osasco have won the last 15 Superligas. Can Uberlândia write its name even further in the competition’s record books?
Player of the Week: Gabriela Guimarães
No team was able to overcome Uberlândia this season but Gabriela’s Sesc/Rj. She was a big reason why. Coming back from injury, and still not in her best playing shape, she led the way with 18 points on 16/33 (48%) hitting, while also scoring a block and an ace. She is Sesc’s biggest hope at a title run, even though her team is playing its underdog card this time time around.
Round of 8 Matchups
1st seed Uberlândia x 8th seed Vôlei Bauru
2nd seed Sesc/Rj x 7th seed Pinheiros
3rd seed Minas x 6th seed Fluminense
4th seed Osasco x 5th seed Barueri
Final Standings
| Rk | Team | Points |
|
1 |
DENTIL PRAIA
|
61 |
|
2 |
SESC RJ
|
57 |
|
3 |
48 | |
|
4 |
VOLEI NESTLE
|
44 |
|
5 |
HINODE BARUERI
|
37 |
|
6 |
FLUMINENSE F.C.
|
37 |
|
7 |
31 | |
|
8 |
VOLEI BAURU
|
29 |
|
9 |
SAO CRISTOVAO SAUDE/SAO CAETANO
|
28 |
|
10 |
BRB/BRASILIA VOLEI
|
13 |
|
11 |
RENATA VALINHOS/COUNTRY
|
7 |
|
12 |
SESI-SP
|
4 |
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