Brazil's Adenizia was among the top scorers in Sunday's match
Campinas, Brazil, June 17, 2015 - Less than two weeks before the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2015 gets underway in Kazakhstan and Mexico, Brazil have signed a second victory against Japan in a series of four friendlies between the two teams.
On Sunday, a crowded Taquaral gym in Campinas, north of São Paulo, witnessed a 3-2 victory for the local team (25-18, 22-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-11), a result which puts Brazil one up in the series after Japan claimed the first match between the two teams last week, and Brazil won the second on Saturday - Brazil and Japan are due to play a fourth match on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro.
Joycinha was the highest scorer for Brazil with 15 points. Mari Paraíba followed with 14, while Adenízia scored 12. Japan's top scorer was Saori Sakoda with 30 points.
Brazil coach Zé Roberto said: "Two of the matches have ended with a score of 3 sets to 2. We wanted to play competitive matches, and have had a chance to play against a good team and test new players. We have two very important competitions this season in the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix and the Pan American Games, so we need to be able to count on a long list of players. Japan pushed us to produce a high level of play today. They play with a lot of speed and we had to adjust to that. I also have to thank the fans in Campinas for their support."
Brazil setter Macris, who was making her debut with the national team at the age of 26, was delighted with the outcome of Sunday's match and thanked the coaching staff for giving her the opportunity to play. "I believe we are evolving in these games against Japan. It is not easy to face the Japanese team, who defend a lot and play with speed all the time. I have to thank the coaching staff and the girls who have welcomed me to the team ever since our first training sessions together."
Brazil will also take on Japan in World Grand Prix Pool A. The two teams play in Bangkok, Thailand on July 3.
Read more about the series on the
Brazilian Confederation website.