Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 5, 2020 – Brazil’s national team opposite Alan Souza helped Sesi to secure an important win in the country’s Superliga as the home side upset league leaders and 2019 FIVB Men’s Club World Championships silver medalists Sada Cruzeiro Vôlei 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-20) at the Vila Leopoldina arena in Sao Paulo.
The Most Valuable Player of the 2019 FIVB Volleyball World Cup in Japan, the 25-year-old Alan, who was part of the Sada Cruzeiro roster that won the 2015 Men’s Club World Championship, delivered a solid performance against his former team by scoring 11 points as the top teams in the league work on their form ahead of entering the playoffs. The opposite is the second best scorer of the competition with 331 points (4.6 per set).
Sesi has a stellar roster that also features other Brazil national team regulars like setter William Arjona, outside hitter Lucas Loh, middle blocker Eder Carbonera and libero Murilo Endres, but the first two didn’t play against Sada Cruzeiro due to injuries.
“The main difference was that we were very focused today and all of our skills worked really well,” Alan explained. “I don’t know if that happened because they are the number one team in the league, but that’s the mindset we need to have going into any match. I don’t think a lot of people expected us to win tonight, but we’re very confident about our potential and hopefully we can get to our best when the playoffs start.”
Sesi’s victory ended Sada Cruzeiro’s 20-match winning streak, but the reigning Copa Brasil and South American champions remain at the top of the Superliga with 53 points (18 wins, two losses). Sesi now rank fourth with 39 points (14 wins, six losses). Each team will play two more matches before the start of the playoffs.
Source: Volley - fivb.org
