Sada Cruzeiro won, for the ninth time, the South American men’s volleyball title. This Sunday (19), the Celeste team beat Itambé Minas Tênis Clube by 3 sets to 1, with partials of 25/21, 25/19, 23/25 and 25/17, at Ginásio General Mário Brum Negreiros, in Araguari ( MG), city that hosted the competition. The victory assured Raposa a spot in the next Club World Cup.
The decision repeated that of 2022, also won by Cruzeiro, which is the biggest South American champion. On the occasion, Raposa beat Minas by 3-0, at the Riacho Poliesportivo Gymnasium, in Contagem (MG). This year, Cruzeirenses had already won the Copa Brasil, defeating Farma Conde Vôlei, from São José dos Campos (SP), in the final, by 3-0, at Arena Jaraguá, in Jaraguá do Sul (SC).
Before facing Minas in the final, Cruzeiro passed Bohemios (Uruguay) and Policial Vóley (Argentina), in the first phase, winning both by 3 sets to 0. In the semifinals, Raposa defeated the host Araguari, also without losing sets . The runners-up, in turn, defeated UPCN (Argentina) and Murano (Chile) by 3-0, in the group stage, and qualified for the decision by making 3-1 at Ciudad Vóley (Argentina).
The achievement reinforces Cruzeiro’s good moment, which leads the first phase of the Men’s Super League, with 18 wins in 21 games. Interestingly, two of the three defeats were precisely for Minas – both by 3 to 1. The Minasten team, second in the Superliga, was looking for its third South American title, the first since 1985, but ended up bitterly in the fifth runner-up.
The South American podium ended up 100% formed by teams from Minas Gerais. In the duel for third place, Araguari beat Ciudad Vóley by 3 sets to 2, with partials of 25/22, 20/25, 25/16, 18/25 and 15/13. It was the first participation of the club from the interior, which played in the event as a guest. The team occupies the ninth place in the Superliga and tries to qualify for the quarterfinals.
