With most countries bringing their top players to this week’s Montreux Volley Masters tournament in Switzerland, there were two notable absences for Brazil. Both their top scorer Tandara Caixeta and middle blocker Bia (Ana Beatriz Silva Correa) are missing from the tournament with injuries. Instead, they’ve stayed home in Brazil to work their way back for the September 29th start of the 2018 FIVB World Championships.
For Tandara, the injury is what’s being called a minor inflammation in her right shoulder (her hitting shoulder), while Bia is battling a small subluxation, or dislocation, in her right shoulder.
As the two are absent, 29-year old Natalia returns to the squad. She’s been battling chronic tendinitis of her right knee and has not played with the Brazilian team since the World Grand Champions Cup last year. The 2012 Olympic champion is one of a few players who are battling for the last few spots at the World Championships, though most of the team’s spots are sewn up at this point.
Brazil won their opening match of the tournament on Tuesday 3-1 over a full-strength Russian squad.
Turkey, China, Brazil Win on Day 1 of 2018 Montreux Volley Masters
The Russian squad is not at full strength.Tatiana Kosheleva, their best attacker, is still recovering from ACL surgery.