Brazil and USA will play four friendly matches in Brasilia, Uberaba and Rio de Janeiro from August 12 to 18
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 11, 2018 – Brazil and USA continue their preparations for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Japan, with a four-match exhibition series from August 12 to 18.
The Brazilian team will host the first match on August 12 in Brasilia, then both teams will travel to Uberaba for matches on August 14 and 16. The series of friendlies will conclude on August 18 in Rio de Janeiro.
“These games will be very important in our preparations for the World Championship,” Jose Roberto (Ze Roberto) Guimaraes said. “The United States team is very strong and they recently won the Volleyball Nations League. They play with speed, which will demand a lot from our side. We will test the players and get them into the rhythm of play. They are motivated and they look forward to the support of the Brazilian fans.”
London 2012 gold medallist Dani Lins is back in Ze Roberto’s squad to lead team-mates Roberta Ratzke, Tandara Caixeta, Adenizia Silva, Ana Beatriz Correa, Ana Carolina Da Silva, Thaisa Menezes, Amanda Francisco, Fernanda Garay, Natalia Perreira, Drussyla Costa, Fernanda Tome, Gabi Guimaraes, Rosamaria Montibeller, Suelen Pinto and Gabiru Souza.
“We are in the final stretch of preparations for the World Championship,” Dani Lins said. “We are training well and these friendly matches will help us get our winning rhythm. USA have a past-paced game and we’re going to need to put a lot of focus on that and play great defence. We are eager and focused on competing in the World Championship.”
Volleyball Nations League MVP Michelle Bartsch-Hackley will lead the USA side, which includes Micha Hancock, Tori Dixon, Lauren Carlini, Lauren Gibbemeyer, Madi Kingdon Rishel, Simone Lee, Annie Drews, Sarah Wilhite Parsons, Megan Courtney, Amanda Benson, Chiaka Ogbobu, and Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallists Rachael Adams and Karsta Lowe.
“Brazil runs a truly legendary programme in the women’s international world and we are honoured to travel there to compete in several different cities,” USA coach Karch Kiraly said.
“With such passionate and knowledgeable fans, there is no better atmosphere in which to battle, so we expect to be pushed to the limit and to learn a lot about ourselves and our game. It will be a great opportunity for us to grow and to significantly enhance our preparation for the World Championship.”
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