With Simone Lee's debut, Sesc Flamengo defeats Tijuca in the Carioca Volleyball Championship

Sesc Flamengo debuts in the Carioca Women's Volleyball Championship this Wednesday (1/10), at 8 pm, against Tijuca Tênis Clube, in Rio de Janeiro. The duel marks the return of coach Bernardinho, who was absent last week due to the death of his mother , Maria Ângela, shortly after returning from the Men's Volleyball World Championship.

The red-and-black team arrives on a high after winning the Taça Brasil in Londrina, aiming for its 20th state title. Despite the positive momentum, the coaching staff and athletes emphasize that there are still adjustments to be made to reach the desired level.

CAPTAIN LAÍS HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE

Libero and captain Laís celebrated the group's progress, but reinforced the need for focus at each stage of the tournament. "I'm very happy with our team's energy and dedication to each challenge. Winning the Taça Brasil was incredibly important for us to gain competitive rhythm . We're still in the early stages of the process, so each stage we win is incredibly valuable. But now it's all over again," she said before concluding.

Flamengo captain predicts duels: "Promises great matches"

" We know that the Campeonato Carioca promises to be a great match. Tijuca is very strong this year, and Fluminense is always a tough opponent. We'll go in focused on building our game, game after game, in pursuit of this title," he said. In the opening round, Tijuca defeated Fluminense in a tiebreak, showing that they will be a competitive opponent.

RED-BLACK FANS

The match against Tijuca will also mark Sesc Flamengo's first home game in Rio de Janeiro in the 2025/2026 season . Tickets are now available for purchase on the Guichê Web website.

The Campeonato Carioca will feature three teams: Sesc Flamengo , Fluminense, and Tijuca Tênis Clube. They will all face each other in a home and away match, with the two best teams advancing to the final. The second match for the Rubro-Negro will be against Fluminense on Friday (3) at 8 p.m. The qualifying round will end on October 9, again against Tricolor, at Hebraica.

After winning the Taça Brasil in Londrina, Paraná, last week, Sesc Flamengo begins its journey toward its 20th Campeonato Carioca title . The red-and-black team's debut takes place this Wednesday (October 1st), at 8 p.m., against Tijuca Tênis Clube, in Tijuca , marking the first home game of the season. Tickets can be purchased through the Guichê Web website.

Despite the short preparation period with a full squad, the team arrives motivated after strong results against opponents from the national elite. The presence of coach Bernardinho , who was sidelined last week due to the death of his mother, Dona Maria Ângela, will be an important reinforcement for the debut.

ATHLETES' MOTIVATION AND FOCUS

Captain and libero Laís highlighted the team's progress and the importance of each milestone in building the season. "I'm very happy with our team's energy and dedication to each challenge. Winning the Taça Brasil was incredibly important for us to gain competitive momentum . We're still in the early stages of the process, so each milestone we win is incredibly valuable," she said before concluding.

"But now it's all over again. We know the Campeonato Carioca promises great matches. Tijuca is very strong this year, and Fluminense is always a tough opponent. We'll go in focused on building our game after game in pursuit of this title," he said. Tijuca Tênis Clube defeated Fluminense by tiebreak in their debut, showing that the competition promises balanced and intense matches.

CARIOCA CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

This year's Campeonato Carioca features three teams: Sesc Flamengo, Fluminense, and Tijuca Tênis Clube . They all face off in a home-and-away format, with the top two advancing to the final.

Sesc Flamengo beat Minas 3 sets to 2 , in a comeback, and won the Taça Brasil title, last Thursday (25) . The final, played at the Moringão gym, in Londrina, was marked by a lot of emotion and the collective strength of the red-black squad.

Tainara talks about Sesc Flamengo's hard-fought victory: "All championships will be like this"

After the victory, opposite hitter Tainara celebrated the result and highlighted the team's unity: "Winning is great. Our goal here was to win. These were three games and three very important victories for our growth . When everyone has the same energy, wanting to win, there's no lost ball. The girls gave me their full support," she stated.

The player also emphasized the importance of team spirit for the rest of the season: "All tournaments will be like this. Those on the bench will step in to help, and those on the court will try their best . I think the strength of the group, energy, and connection will be our hallmarks this season," Tainara added.

HOW WAS THE GAME?

The start was difficult for Flamengo , who lost the first two sets despite having tied at 23-23 in the first set . The team started on the court with Giovana, Tainara, Helena, Karina, Juju, Lorena and Laís.

The turnaround began with changes made by coach Hélio Griner: Vivian replaced Giovana, and Mikaela took Helena's place. With more aggressive serving and more efficient blocking , Flamengo grew in the game.

Highlights included the personality of outside hitter Mikaela, just 17 years old, and the development of Tainara, who became the main weapon in counterattacks. In the tiebreak, full of provocations, the Red-Blacks took the lead after the 10th point and sealed the victory with a block by Helena.

NEXT APPOINTMENT

After the Taça Brasil, the focus turns to the Campeonato Carioca and the Women's Superliga. Bernardinho's team returns to the court on October 1st , when they begin their state championship against Tijuca Tênis Clube. Their national tournament debut takes place on October 20th at the TTC, against Paulistano/Barueri.