When it comes to championships, Unilever talks. Defending champions overcame Sesi-SP to clinch a second successive Superleague title and 9th overall, the highest total in Brazilian League history. Legendary 44 years old Fofão earned the MVP award.
The preliminary round didn’t look very promising. Ranked 3rd and 17 points off the pace, Unilever definitely was far away from its heyday. Nevertheless, sometimes it takes losses to mould a winner and Unilever turned regular-season defeats into winning lessons.
The improvement over the competition happened when the team came to grips with passing and Fofão bounced back to the semifinals.
In the opening set, Unilever held a dominating spike advantage 12-7, in addition to an 2-6 faults margin, to nail it (21-11).
Following the trend, the team bolted a 5-1 lead in the second set with an ace from Carol and stretched its advantage serving (5-2) and spiking (13-6) better than the opponent. Amanda came on to serve and ended the frame with an ace at 21-12.
Sesi came back in the third set determined to not lose in 3 and built an astonishing 11-1 lead with great services. Unilever was unable to reverse the lead and lost at 13-21.
After a low moment in the match, Unilever managed to regroup and get the upper hand in the fourth and decisive set. Gabi at hitting and Juciely at blocking gave no chance to a new comeback from Sesi who was handily defeated in the end.
Unilever is a nine-times Superleague champion.
The final was attended by 10,500 fans.
Awards
MVP: Fofão (Unilever)
Best server: Tandara (Vôlei Amil)
Best spiker: Andréia (EC Pinheiros)
Best blocker: Thaísa (Molico/Nestlé)
Best reception: Verê (Brasília Vôlei)
Best digger: Monique (Banana Boat/Praia Clube)
Best setter: Macris (EC Pinheiros)
Standings
1. Unilever
2. Sesi-SP
3. Molico/Nestlé
4. Vôlei Amil
5. Banana Boat/Praia Clube
6. EC Pinheiros
7. São Cristóvão/São Caetano
8. Brasília Vôlei
9. Barueri
10. São Bernardo Vôlei
11. Uniara/AFAV
12. Decisão Engenharia/Minas
13. Rio do Sul/Equibrasil
14. Maranhão Vôlei
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