Women's Club World Champs 2023 - News.

CWCHW2022_Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano _ Dentil Praia Clube_12_15_22_072

Dentil Praia Clube Uberlandia defeated Gerdau Minas Belo Horizonte in Sunday’s South American Women’s Club Championship final as both teams booked their spots at the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.

The two Brazilian clubs return to the competition for the fifth consecutive time, after participating together in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. In 2018, Minas made it to the Club World Championship podium with silver, their second since 1992, when they had their debut in the competition and finished runners-up.

Dentil Praia and Gerdau Minas once again confirmed their continental domination by reaching the South American Club Championship final for the fifth consecutive time. This year it was tournament hosts Dentil Praia’s turn to triumph as they dethroned defending champions Gerdau Minas after a five-set battle, 3-2 (25-16, 17-25, 27-25, 12-25, 15-11), delighting their fans with their second continental title, after first topping the podium in 2021.

While Gerdau Minas’s Brazilian international opposite Kisy Nascimento was the best scorer of the final match with 25 points, Dentil Praia’s Dominican striker Brayelin Martinez was named the Most Valuable Player of the five-day tournament in Uberlandia.

“I am super happy for the victory and for the title”, said Martinez. “Our team worked hard to have these gold medals – this one and the one in the Brazilian SuperLiga – so ending the season like this is very gratifying. We did a lot of work, made many sacrifices, but now I feel that it is a duty fulfilled.”

Dentil Praia and Gerdau Minas had already secured their tickets to the Club World Championship even before Sunday’s final by winning their semifinals on Saturday. The home team mastered a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) shutout of fellow Brazilians Sesi Volei Bauru, while the girls from Belo Horizonte delivered a 3-0 (25-19, 25/17, 25-18) sweep of Peruvian champions Regatas Lima. Eventually, Sesi Volei took the bronze after a 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-22) win over Regatas in the third place match.

A total of seven clubs from five countries took part in the tournament. The line-up also included teams from Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay.