The duo representing CT Alan Cavalcanti, Larissa Rocha and Alexandra Araújo, were the big winner of the 3rd stage of the National Senior Women's Footvolley Championship held this Sunday, July 7, at Praia dos Pescadores, in Albufeira.
The third stage had 11 teams/doubles, 22 athletes, representing 5 national clubs, namely CA Matosinhos, CT Alan Cavalcanti, FC 11 Esperanças, FC Carcavelos and Imortal DC. In the first phase of the competition, the Groups Phase, which took place at 10:00 am, the teams were divided into 2 different groups, in a total of 25 games, with the first classified in each group immediately guaranteeing a place in the semi-finals. The two pairs classified in the second position immediately went on to the Quarter Finals. The third and fourth classified in each group would have to play a playoff game to access the Quarter Finals.
As a result of the Group Phase standings Larissa Rocha/Alexandra Araújo (CT Alan Cavalcanti), Laura Clementino/Ágatha Salomão (CA Matosinhos), Mariana Pessanha/Rafaela Veiga (CT Alan Cavalcanti) and Ana Paula Cabrita/Olivia Costa (Imortal DC) reached the Quarterfinals and in the fight for a place in the Semi-Finals. Following the games played, Larissa Rocha/Alexandra Araújo (CT Alan Cavalcanti) and Mariana Pessanha/Rafaela Veiga (CT Alan Cavalcanti) reached the semi-finals, facing respectively the first classified in the Group Stage, namely Mariana Felisberto/Louise Alves (CT Alan Cavalcanti) and Manuella Di Blazio/Amanda Leal (FC Carcavelos).
While in the first Semi Final between well-known pairs from the city of Cascais, Larissa Rocha/Alexandra Araújo clearly won by 18x4, in the second game, Manuella Di Blazio/Amanda Leal from FC Carcavelos were more capable than the 'neighbor' pair from Cascais and won by 18x10 Mariana Pessanha/Rafaela Araújo.
With the most decisive moment of the stage already on the horizon, it was important to determine who would occupy the 3rd and 4th places on the podium, in a single-set game, Mariana Pessanha/Rafaela Veiga won 18x14 against Mariana Felisberto/Louise Alves, both teams of CT Alan Cavalcanti.
Arriving at the most decisive moment of the afternoon and of the stage, nothing better than emotion until the end, while in the 1st set the Cascais duo closed the scoring by a clear 18x9, with no room for a new slide, the Carcavelos duo appeared much better in the 2nd set and responds with exactly the same partial this time in its favor, 18x9. Arriving at the 'tie set', Larissa Rocha/Alexandra Araújo were sufficiently capable of reaching the victory and closing the set by 15x9 and consequent victory in the match and in the stage.
Organized by the National Footvolley Federation and Imortal Desportivo Clube, the event had the main support of the Municipality of Albufeira and Bellavista Sports Café.
The competition continues on the 11th of September with the city of Póvoa de Varzim hosting the 4th stage of the Senior Women's event.