Defending champions Gerdau Minas struggle before defeating Brusque 3-2 in the opening match of the 2026/2027 Superliga.
The women's Superliga 2026/2027 season kicked off with a nail-biting encounter as Gerdau Minas faced a resilient Brusque team at the Arena UniBH in Belo Horizonte.
Coached by Leandro Vissotto, the home side had to fight through a major scare to secure a hard-fought 3 sets to 2 victory, with partial scores of 25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 17-25, and 17-15.
Despite taking the win, the atmosphere among the Minas players and staff was one of clear dissatisfaction with their overall performance on opening night, according to information published by WEBVOLEI.
Thaisa shines and reaches historic block milestone
The prestigious VivaVôlei Trophy for the best player on the court was awarded to veteran middle blocker Thaisa. She finished the match with an impressive 16 points, contributing ten through attacks, three from serves, and three blocks.
Playing alongside Thaisa in the middle of the net was Giovana, stepping in due to the absence of Luzia. During the second set, the two-time Olympic champion reached a major milestone, securing her 1,500th career block in the Superliga.
Brusque stages a stunning comeback in Belo Horizonte
After dropping the first two sets largely due to excessive unforced errors, Brusque mounted an incredible comeback. Coached by Maurício Thomas, the visiting team capitalized on a massive Minas blackout.
Led by stellar performances from Camila Mesquita and Puerto Rican player Paola Santiago, Brusque dominated the third and fourth sets. Camila Mesquita finished as the top scorer of the duel with 33 points and a 56% efficiency rate.
Minas recovers just in time in the tie-break
Carried by the momentum, Brusque kept up their high level of play in the fifth set and even came within three points of a historic victory at 12-10 in Belo Horizonte.
However, Thaisa continued to deliver crucial points from the middle, while Maiara Basso and Giovana came up with vital blocks to spark a late comeback for Gerdau Minas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the opening match of the 2026/2027 women's Superliga?
Gerdau Minas won the opening match, defeating Brusque 3 sets to 2 at the Arena UniBH in Belo Horizonte.
Who won the VivaVôlei Trophy in the Minas versus Brusque match?
Veteran middle blocker Thaisa won the VivaVôlei Trophy after scoring 16 points and reaching her 1,500th career block in the Superliga.
Who was the top scorer of the Superliga opening match?
Camila Mesquita led Brusque as the top scorer of the duel, recording an impressive 33 points with a 56% efficiency rate.
