Rexona-Sesc claims fifth spot in thriller against Hisamitsu Springs

Rexona-Sesc Rio. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Rexona-Sesc Rio settled for the fifth spot in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship overcoming Hisamitsu Springs Kobe in five sets, 20-25, 25-22, 25-15, 30-32, 15-7 in the Classification stages Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

After struggling to dispose the Japanese in the fourth set, the South American champions then lit it up in the fifth set with Juciely capping it off with a running spike to seal Rexona-Sesc’s place in the world championships.

Outside hitter Gabi gave Rexona-Sesc the 30-29 lead in the fourth set and needed only one point to claim the win but Risa Shinnabe had other plans for Hisamitsu Springs as she scored twice to give the 2014 Asian club champions the 31-30 lead.

Yuki Ishii then made sure there was a fifth set with an off-the-block kill but the final period was theirs to lose.

Monique led Rexona-Sesc, which placed fourth in last year’s tournament, with 21 points but Juciely was not far behind with 20.

Anne Bujis and Gabi were also in the scoring fray for the Rio club with 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Carolina Da Silva added 12.

Shinnabe had 19 points to lead Hisamitsu Springs while Ishii and captain Miyu Nagaoka added 18 points apiece.