SESC RJ Flamengo and Gerdau Minas continued to distance themselves from the chasing pack in the Brazilian Women’s Superliga after both teams secured key victories during the third leg of the second round of the regular season.
The league’s top two sides capitalized on setbacks suffered by their closest rivals, reinforcing their status as early favorites to finish first in the standings.
Flamengo Rebound With Strong Away Win
League leaders SESC RJ Flamengo responded emphatically after suffering their first loss of the season, defeating third-placed Dentil Praia Clube 3–1 away in Uberlândia.
Flamengo dominated the opening two sets before conceding the third, then closed out the match with authority. American outside hitter Simone Lee spearheaded the attack, finishing with 19 points and collecting her sixth MVP award of the season. Karina Souza and Olympic medalist Tainara Santos also made significant contributions to the win.
Despite the defeat, Praia Clube found a standout performance from American hitter Payton Caffrey, who led all scorers with 20 points.
With the victory, Flamengo moved to 37 points from 14 matches, maintaining their position at the summit of the table.
Minas Cruise Past Fluminense
Second-placed Gerdau Minas delivered one of the most commanding performances of the round, sweeping Fluminense FC 3–0 in Rio de Janeiro.
Canadian outside hitter Hilary Johnson topped Minas’ scoring chart with 17 points, while Russian opposite Maria Khaletskaya provided additional firepower. Olympic gold medalist libero Nyeme Costa was named MVP after an exceptional defensive display that anchored Minas throughout the match.
Minas improved their record to 12 wins and two losses, keeping the pressure firmly on Flamengo at the top of the standings.
Mid-Table Battles and Tight Five-Setters
Elsewhere in the Superliga, Tijuca Tênis Clube edged Sancor Maringá Vôlei in a five-set thriller, while SESI Vôlei Bauru recorded a straight-sets win over Paulistano Barueri.
Saturday’s action featured more dramatic encounters, with Batavo Mackenzie overturning a two-set deficit to defeat Renasce Sorocaba on the road. Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde also emerged victorious in a five-set contest against Brasília Vôlei.
Standings Outlook
With Flamengo and Minas pulling away, both Praia Clube and Osasco lost valuable ground and now sit well behind the leading duo. The Superliga is set to pause briefly, with league action resuming on January 27, following the Brazilian Cup quarterfinals scheduled for later this week.
