Suellen, Laiana lead well-balanced scoring as Brazil overcome Canada in four-set showdown Suellen, Laiana lead well-balanced scoring as Brazil overcome Canada in four-set showdown

Suellen Dellangelica Lima and Laiana Rodrigues spearheaded a well-balanced scoring effort as Brazil triumphed 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19) over Canada in a thrilling four-set showdown at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games women’s sitting volleyball tournament in North Paris Arena on Saturday.

The Brazilian duo, each contributing 12 points, showcased their versatility on both offence and defence. Their solid performance was instrumental in Brazil’s ability to outmanoeuvre Canada, which, despite a strong showing from Sarah Melenka, could not keep pace with Brazil’s efficient and composed play.

Brazil played strong in the opening set, establishing their dominance early with a 25-20 victory. Suellen led the charge, executing crucial attacks and demonstrating sharp defensive skills at the net. Canada, led by Sarah Melenka, fought back valiantly but was hindered by costly errors that allowed Brazil to maintain the upper hand.

The second set saw Brazil continue their momentum, edging out Canada 25-21. Laiana Rodrigues emerged as a key contributor, complementing Suellen’s efforts with her spikes and timely blocks. Despite Canada’s efforts to close the gap, Brazil’s balanced approach and fewer mistakes secured them the set.

Canada made a strong push in the third set, fuelled by Melenka’s offence. The set went on an exchange of points, but Canada managed to extend the match into a fourth set with a 25-23-win, capitalising on the Brazilian turnovers.

In the fourth set, Brazil regrouped and displayed their depth, with contributions from multiple players. The team’s cohesive ply and strategic blocking stifled Canada’s offence, allowing Brazil to close out the match with a 25-19 triumph.

Brazil’s superior net defence, highlighted by Edwarda de Oliveira’s (Duda) five blocks, proved to be the difference, as they outscored Canada 20-15.

While both teams had an equal number of attacks, the South American’s efficiency was evident in their lower error count, committing only 22 turnovers compared to Canada’s 36. Despite Canada’s advantage from the service line with a 9-3 edge in aces, Brazil’s well-rounded performance across the board ultimately led them to victory.

Photo: WPV/Sinisa Kanizaj.