Hosts Brazil grab top place in women’s Pool A in Rio
Two-time defending Olympic champions Brazil captured top place of Pool A in the women’s volleyball tournament of Rio 2012 Olympic Games by subduing Russia in straight sets 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-21) to cap Sunday’s actions at Maracanazinho Stadium.
As pool winners with an unbeaten record without losing a single set in five appearances, the home side will be facing China, the fourth team of Pool B, in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
Sheilla Castro had 18 points, including three aces, to lead the winning attack, followed by Natalia Pereira and Fabiana Claudino with 14 and 9, respectively, in the victory.
Russia’s Nataliya Goncharova, Tatiana Kosheleva and Yana Shcherban finished with 19, 12 and 10 points, respectively in the losing effort.
Brazil committed a couple of errors allowing Russia to even up the score at 23-all but recovered to claim the first set 25-23 on consecutive spikes by Sheilla and Fernanda. Goncharova had seven points for Russia in the opening set and Fernanda had six for Brazil.
In the second set with the score evened at 15-15 Brazil put together a 4-point rally when Fabiana scored with spike and ace followed by block of Thaiza against Goncharova and spike by Natalia. Sheilla’s spike closed it 25-21.
Three spikes in a row by Fabiana followed by two aces by Sheilla and three spikes by Jaqueline gave Brazil an 8-point lead after a 12-all score in the third set. The set finished 25-21 with a big bomb by Natalia.
