The reigning national champions and South American champions Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro are close to being knocked out of the women’s Superleague Playoffs in Brazil.
Camponesa Minas Belo Horizonte’s Destinee Hooker has been playing lights out, leading the squad to back-to-back comeback upsets to shake the semifinal series. Hooker, who is in her first season with Camponesa after time in Asia moved her team to 3-1, (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-19) and 3-2, (25-21, 13-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-8) victories. In both matches, Hooker was the top scorer with 21 and 20 points, respectively.
In the best-of-five series, Camponesa now leads 2-1 and has the potential to qualify for their first final in 13 years.
Rexona Sesc is putting a rock in that hope, as they took a 3-1, (25-12, 25-18, 27-29, 25-23) win on Tuesday to force a deciding fifth match that will take place on April 14.
While there is a battle between Rexona Sesc and Camponesa, Volei Nestle Osasco has advanced to the Superleague final after taking down Dentil Praia Clube Uberlandia in a semifinal series sweep.
Leading the way for Osasco was Tandara Ciaxeta as the matches top scorer with 21 points.
Both Rexona Sesc (as continental champions) and Osasco (as reciepents of a wild card) will be headlining the 2017 FIVB Club World Championship in Kobe from May 9-14. They are joining a list of the top clubs in the world – hosts Hisamitsu Springs, reigning Asian champions NEC Red Rockets of Kawasaki and the other three wild cards of reigning world champions Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul, VakifBank Istanbul and Volero Zurich.
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