Brasil’s defensive lapses lead to a loss against the USA in the women’s VNL

With numerous passing errors, Brasil succumbs to the USA in the conclusion of the week of the Nations League.

Final score and information about game

Brasil’s Defensive Failures Lead to Loss against USA in Women’s VNL With numerous passing errors, Brazil suffered a defeat against the United States in the conclusion of the week’s Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in Brasília. In a rematch of the last Olympic final, the USA defeated the Brazilian team 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-22) on Sunday (18). Coverage failures and wasted counter-attacks were crucial factors in the negative outcome. This marked Brazil’s second loss in the Women’s VNL, following six consecutive victories.

Due to Pri Daroit’s discomfort in the previous match, Brazil began the game with Júlia Bergmann. This was the only change compared to the team that defeated Germany the day before. The starting lineup consisted of Macris, Thaisa, Maiara, Kisy, Carol, and Nyeme (L). Roberta replaced Macris starting from the second set, while Diana substituted for Carol in the third set. Rosamaria also entered the game during the course of the three sets.

Each set followed a similar pattern. The United States consistently gained comfortable leads, while Brazil managed to catch up and remain in the game but failed to surpass their opponents and ultimately suffered defeat. The Brazilian team struggled with numerous passing errors, particularly during the second set’s serves.

Thaisa was the top scorer for Brazil, with 12 points. Maiara and Kisy, who were frequently involved, especially in the first set, contributed 11 points each. Diana, who entered the game only in the third set, scored six points. Jordan Thompson led the American team with 15 points, followed by Kathryn Plummer with 14.

VNL Outlook This marked Brazil’s second loss in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League. José Roberto Guimarães’ team had previously achieved six consecutive victories, three of which were in Brasília. With their campaign, Brazil currently occupies fifth place in the overall standings with 18 points. The USA, on the other hand, holds the second position with seven victories and 19 points.

The Brazilian team will now enjoy a week of rest before their next matches in the VNL. They will travel to Bangkok, Thailand, where they will face Italy, Canada, Turkey, and the host nation from June 28 to July 2. This will be the final week of matches in the VNL’s preliminary phase. The top seven teams in the standings, along with the USA, who will host the finals, will proceed to the knockout stage.

Match Recap Brazil started the game energetically and quickly took a 3-0 lead. However, the United States closed the gap with strong attacks and blocks. As the USA gained momentum, Brazil began to struggle with passing errors, allowing their opponents to take the lead, reaching 11-7. Coach Zé Roberto called a timeout to regain control of the team.

TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 08: Fernanda Rodrigues #16 of Team Brazil competes against Jordan Larson #10 and Haleigh Washington #22 of Team United States during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on day sixteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on August 08, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***

Macris utilized the front and backcourt to involve Kisy and Júlia Bergmann, and Brazil excelled in attacking. Kisy successfully converted difficult balls, bringing Brazil closer at 20-19. With substitutions, Roberta and Rosamaria joined the game to maintain pressure in the final moments. However, the United States demonstrated strength at the end, closing the set with a score of 25-22.

The Second Set Nervousness affected Brazil right from the beginning of the second set. Poor coverage led to a 4-0 advantage for the United States. Zé Roberto was forced to call a timeout to calm the Brazilian players. Despite Júlia’s ace and Maiara’s attack, Brazil couldn’t overcome their anxiety and achieve a tie.

Roberta replaced Macris, but the American team continued to dominate, establishing a 14-7 lead. After another timeout, Brazil improved. Maiara, Carol, and Kisy received more sets and succeeded in igniting the crowd, rallying with five consecutive points and reducing the gap to 14-12. Nevertheless, defensive errors persisted, and the Americans regained control, ultimately closing the set at 25-19.

To summarize

Similarly, in the third set, the dynamics were almost identical to the previous set. This time, the United States secured a 6-0 advantage. With Diana replacing Carol, Brazil stabilized and reduced wasted attacking opportunities. They exchanged points with the USA, closing the gap at 17-16. Once again, however, they failed to equalize, and the opposing team pulled ahead, ultimately concluding the set at 25-22. This marked Brazil’s second defeat in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League.

5 interesting facts about woman VNL

• The Women’s Volleyball Nations League, also known as the VNL, was first held in 2018. It is a relatively new international volleyball tournament that replaced the FIVB World Grand Prix.
• The VNL is an annual competition organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). It brings together top national women’s volleyball teams from around the world to compete in a series of round-robin matches and final stages.
• The preliminary round of the VNL follows a round-robin format, where all participating teams play each other. The teams with the best records advance to the final round, while others compete in the Challenger Cup to secure a spot in the next year’s VNL.
• The hosting rights for the Women’s VNL are rotated among the participating countries each year. This allows different nations to showcase their volleyball infrastructure and promote the sport on a global stage.
• The VNL features some of the best volleyball players from around the world, representing their respective national teams. The tournament serves as an important preparatory event for major international competitions like the FIVB World Championship and the Olympic Games.