Posts by Genius of the Sky

The match between Sesc-RJ VS Minas is the living proof of a spiker is only as good as their setter is. Roberta is definitely the best setter is the Superliga this season. She is very calm and have very good hand. Even her bump set is precise. The way she handle those tight to the net balls and set them to their middles is a pure pleasure to watch. And her serve is very lethal, too. One of her best criteria is she invites everyone to play. The ball will go to every corner of the court. There will be no Tandara or Hooker when she is on court, everyone will get their chance to kill the ball.

Mayhara and Juciely is the best MB duo right now. Most team have only 1 good MB but Rio have it complete. Both of these women are great attackers and great blockers too. Juciely have been one of the most prominent figure on the net for the past years and now Mayhara is slowly catching up. Mayhara's movement when it comes to outside blocking is so good, her timing and her feet movement is good. Her arm reach kinda reminds me of Thaisa. And her serve is good, too. I have to say, I don't miss Carol now that Mayhara is keeping up.

Monique is one of a kind. She might be one of the smallest wing spikers in the Superliga, but she is definitely one of the best. With Monique, you just don't know where the ball will go. Her tips is always a pleasure to watch, almost the same way I feel when I watch Sheila Castro (now that she is no longer a & pt player I hope she will return to Rio. Imagine if Natalia goes back to Rio, too).

Gabi - Drussyla duo is one of the best passing and defense duo in the Superliga. They might be underperforming some times but they got the job done.

And Fabi has never had a bad season imo. She is always the backbone of the team. That iconic cheat she did when her body was facing the position #2 and bump the ball to position #4 was magical.

I have to say, with all of these going on, I bet Sesc-RJ will add another championship title to their collection. Kinda crazy when you think how inconsistent they have been through out the season. I guess it all comes down to the magical touch of Coach Rezende.

Quote from guilhermessartor

Rumours about Rosamaria (BRA, OH/OPP) & Maja Ognjenovic (SRB, S) in Fenerbahçe.
Natália (BRA, OH) left Fenerbahçe

This must be a joke. The girl is basically useless in Minas. I don't know what people sees in her, completely overrated.


And if Natalia were to leave, I hope she will return to Sesc-RJ. I am dying for some Natalia-Gabi duo. And hopefully Sheilla Castro will join them, too!

Keep Nootsara and Natalia, and bring back KYK. Make Fenerbahce great again!

I don't understand hiring useless foreigners. Ninkovic has been absent in front of the net all the time. Skworonska is basically useless. Don't fight me on this. She did nothing on court. I wish Coach Ze would have just hire Mari Steinbrecher instead. And Carli Lloyd is a mess. I know she came in late but for someone who is supposedly the next great setter, her performance is just unacceptable.

I hope Coach Ze bring in Sheila Castro next season.

Quote from saishuu

I'm honestly expecting that to happen. Minas is dead and Praia always chokes.

And funny enough, if that happens, I think Rio will be champion again. How crazy will it be though? Rio has been inconsistent through out the league - by their standard i mean. their worst performances are better than some of these teams best performances.

After all, there might be a chance that it is going to be another Osasco - Rio final.

Quote from Mkmalaluan

praia - oh garay, mb fabiana, levantadora claudinha, mb walewska, libero suelen

Rio - oposto monique, oh gabi, mb mayhara

Minas - mb carol gattaz oposto rosamaria

Osasco - libero tassia oposto tandara mb bia

Fenerbache - natalia

Nilufer - carol

Scandicci - adenizia

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Claudinha instead of Roberta?

Girl, bye.

FB should just keep Tomkom and bring back KYK so the Natalia - KYK duo can work their magic once again. Get Neslihan to replace Rahimova. Keep the local MB trio. And the liberos are doing fine.

Although deep down in my heart I wish Natalia will go back to Brazil and play alongside Gabi in Sesc-RJ. I cannot imagine the slayage the Gabi-Natalia duo can bring now that Roberta is getting better and better each day.

Roberta is definitely the best Brazilian female setter right now. She is holding the team together. Everyone shines on court because her distribution of sets is just amazing. I guess being the under study of Fofao really helped her a lot.

As much as Rio has been struggling through out this season, they still step up their game when it matters most. Gabi have been having a rough match but she stepped up her game on the last 2 sets. And what' Rio have that Minas don't have is that their wing spikers - Gabi, Drussyla, and Monique - can hit the ball out of system. Minas depends on Hooker 80% of the time and we all know Hooker is a good player, but she some times choked during crucial moment.

I guess it is going to be Rio VS Praia in the final. Who knows.

Quote from Sidney

Yes, they did, including together in Fenerbahce.
Both played in Italy for a few years too, in different teams. Fofão was a two time Italian league champion and a one-time CL champion in Perugia. She also played in Spain.
Sokolova played in Bergamo. I think she won one Italian league and one CL there. She also played in Jesi.

Wow, cant believe these legends were a team back then. It always amazes me when top tier players play in the same club. And I don't really know who else have been playing abroad. It seems like these top Turkish teams have attracted so many top performing players. Do you know any other big stars from different countries that play in Turkey before 2012?

Quote from Angel

I want to add Fernanda Venturini

oh yes! the legendary setter. Fofao was a back up to her for years. fernanda made a come back in 2010 or 2011 and played in Rexona alongside Sheilla and Mari. that was a good year.

Quote from Umu11

Sokolova played abroad a lot. Eczacibasi, Fenerbahce, again Eczacibasi, Japan, Spain, Italy.

do you know any other foreign players that have played in Brazil? I know Scott Aruda, Tom Logan, Sossa, Destinee Hooker, Nicole Fawcett, Kim Glass have played there.

Quote from Sidney

I've been watching volleyball regularly for more than 15 years now. Sokolova is the best player I've ever seen. Next would be Sheilla. As for setters, I would pick Fofão.

Too bad I wasn't following back then during the hey day of Sokolova. But I love her tho since the moment I watch her (around 2008). She has a very cool persona on court, quite the contrary of her Russian team mates. Sheilla is indeed the best female Opp I have ever seen. She does not only hit hard, but she is very dynamic with her attacking. Her ball goes to every corner of the court. And her tips which I think has become her trade mark, is definitely one of the best I have ever seen as well. Fofao is legendary. Period. That tiny setter made a huge difference in female volleyball alongside another legendary setter - Takeshita.

Just wondering, does Sokolova and Fofao ever played abroad?

Quote from Angel

Mireya Luis, Liubov Sokolova, Logan Tom, Fofao, Irina Kirillova, Magaly Carvajal, Regla Torres, Ana Moser, Brenda Castillo, Kim Yeon-Koung, Saori Kimura, Yoshie Takeshita, Ekaterina Gamova, Francesca Piccinini, Taismary Agüero...

Piccinini -- how can I forget her? She is definitely one of the living legends of Italian volleyball.

Yeap! Neslihan the Iron Hammer and Queen Yeonkoung definitely deserve the legendary title.

How about Wang Yi Mei.

Quote from ryleybarnes

Maybe your phenom Alyssa Valdez.

W H O

I started following international volleyball the moment Marieanne Steinbrecher -- with her beauty and ice cold persona -- helped Brazil won their first ever Olympic gold medal in Beijing. As time goes by, I learnt more and more about the world of volleyball. I just wanna know who do you guys think are considered as the living legends of volleyball? And why are they considered as legendary?

Giba, Dante, Serginho, Mikhaylov, Fofao, Gamova, Sokolova, Ruiz, Kimura, Takeshita, Sano, Sheilla Castro, Mari Steinbrecher, Logan Tom -- these are some of the formidable names when it comes to the world of international volleyball. Are they legendary? What makes them legendary? Who, other than these names, in your opinion are legendary?

DISCUSS!

Quote from Rains_of_Castamere

Tandara on Tifanny

https://youtu.be/1Et-PFQCin0

anyone can translate for the non-Portuguese speaking fans in here?

With Felipe out, there is a huge gap on the OH position. We are left with Lucarelli (speedy recovery!), Douglas, and Mauricio. I wish the names you mentioned above will be given chance to show their ability.

Quote from saishuu

Douglas should be out? lol sure...

Douglas was having an outstanding season in 2015-16 that's why he went to the Olympic. Last year and this year, I think he is still performing good although I don't really follow men's superliga anymore. How is he performing?

Quote from Agguerro

I think Brazil will need to have 3 opposite players - one of them being Renan. He showed very good potential in their friendly series against the USA last year, although he then didnt play so well during the world league.. His attack is very far from whats needed, but he can be a blocking force .

Joao should get a chance as well.. the outside hitter position is a vulnerable - last year and in Rio it really helped that Lipe could come in and help. Mauricio stabilises reception but he can be shut down in attack a lot.

I expect the team is going to be the same until Leal joins them next year...really wish he was joining this year.

Renan is a huge force if he is trained right. His height is a threat to OH.

And how about Murilo playing as libero? So far he is doing quite good. There might be chance he is joining the NT playing as libero. Poor Brendle.

Quote from saishuu

I'd go with:

S: Roberta, Naiane, Dani Lins*
OPP: Tandara, Edinara, Lorenne**
OHs: Natália, Gabi, Rosamaria, Garay, Drussyla
MBs: Bia, Thaísa, Adenízia, Carol
L: Gabiru, Suelen

*She'll get called either way.
**Just for some experience.

Players I'd like to see in a hypothetical B team:

S: Ananda
OPP: Bruna, Paula Borgo
OHs: Amanda, Fernanda Tomé, Maira, Mari Paraíba
MBs: Milka, Mayhara, Fran, Mara
L: Dani Terra

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We had almost the same choice for every spot. And I do think Dani Lins will still be a part of the team. She has been playing with the team for such a long time and she understands Coach Ze's style of playing. Plus, having an experienced setter is always a huge helping hand for a team.

What's your opinion on Tiffany being Tandara's back up tho?

Quote from Agguerro

I thought Dani Lins was pregnant? She's not going to play this season surely? Anyhow Roberta is definitely first choice.

OH - agree with most - but not really impressed with Rosamaria. I guess shes been part of the squad for a while now it would be awkward to cut her off . I kept hoping last season she would begin to show a better or more consistent level,, but i couldn't really see this.

Why isn't anyone saying Leia for Libero ? Has she left the team? I thought she only requested a season off.

I would like to see Tiffany in the team - just for the groundbreaking nature of it and what kind of dynamic that would add to the team and the reaction of other teams! lol the drama.

Edinara has got potential - still a bit raw but experience will help.

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True about Rosamaria.Tbh I don't understand what people see in her. Pri Daroit have been outplaying her on some occasion this season. She is like the Marieanne Steinbrecher of the new generation; but that is during Mari's downfall year. At least Mari has 2004 and 2008's Olympics written her name all over it.

Quote from Mkmalaluan

This is just for me:
Full review next time

Setter: roberta
Second : fabiola

Outside hitter: fe garay
Second: gabi; rosamaria (also opposite)

Opposite: tandara
Second: edinara; bruna honorio

Middle blockers: bia and carol
Second: thaisa

Libero: thaissa

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You are going to leave Natalia out and choose Rosamaria instead? Gurl.

I think the time has come for the new thread for a whole new year for the team. So far here is my list of deserving players:

Setter
1. Roberta - 2017 has been a great year for her.
2. Naiane - talented & brave on court.

OH
1. Natalia - basically the best OH Brazil has right now although she is underperforming in Fenerbahce.
2. Fe Garay - still lethal. but I don't know if she will be able to make it to Rio. the younger girls are catching up.
3. Gabi - Brazil's most stable attacker and hitter. With her on court, they can unleash Natalia full power.
4. Rosamaria - she needs to step up her game.
5. Drussyla - so hard to picture her as starter but she still have time to grow and learn. her beach volleyball skills transition on court is just great!

Opp
1. Tandara - enough said.
2. Tiffany - love her or hate her, she will definitely bring height and power on court. Plus, she looks like Tandara.
3. Edinara - the second coming of Mari.

MB
1. Bia - the top of the pack.
2. Carol - getting so much better on Turkey
3. Thaisa - if she decides to come back, and if her performance is on par
4. Adenizia - doing well on Italy, although her attitude on court is off-putting
5. Juciely - not young like the others, but her back slide is the best after Fabiana
6. Mayhara - judging by her recent performance on Superliga, she still can make it

Libero
1. Thaiss - help Osasco a lot
2. Gabi - hope she recovers fast
3. Suellen - wish she is a bit more active chasing the ball
4. Camilla Brait - come back, please.
5. Fabi - can she come back, too?

How about yours?

Douglas Souza is still performing quite good. He is still young. Having him in the NT consistently as starter will help him unleash his true potential.