Brazil’s Eduarda/Elize Maia claim Women’s gold at FIVB Fortaleza Open

Fortaleza, Brazil, May 1, 2016 — Wowing the audience yet again, Brazil’s youthful Eduarda Lisboa and her more veteran teammate Elize Maia won their second gold medal in two months Sunday, defeating veteran compatriots in Brazil’s Juliana Felisberta/Taiana Lima at the FIVB Fortaleza Open.  The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event was played at the purpose built stadium at Praia do Futuro in Fortaleza,Brazil’s fifth-seeded Eduarda, just 17 and Elize Maia, 31, played brilliantly in answering every challenge from Brazil’s fourth-seeded Juliana/Taiana in the gold medal match to win in straight sets, 21-17, 21-18 in 35 minutes.In the women’s bronze medal match Sunday prior to the women’s gold medal finale, Brazil’s 19th-seeded Rebecca Silva/Liliane Maestrini held off Vanuatu’s determined Miller Pata/Linline Matauatu in straight sets, 21-19, 21-19 in 41 minutes.With the sweep of the Fortaleza podium, Brazil has now accomplished that feat a record 24 different times on the FIVB World Tour while advancing two teams to the gold medal match for the 57th time. Brazil’s women increased their FIVB-leading final four total to 476 which far outdistances the United States which is second in all-time FIVB country final fours list with 308. Brazil’s last women’s podium sweep before Sunday in Fortaleza was last June at the FIVB St. Petersburg Grand Slam in the United States.FIVB FORTALEZA OPEN PURSE/POINTSThe gold medal teams at the FIVB Fortaleza Open will split $11,000 and 500 points, the silver $8,000 and 450 points, the bronze $6,000 400 points and fourth place $4,500 and 450 points. The event is the fourth and final regular season Brazilian stop on the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.GOLD MEDAL REVIEWWhile Brazil’s Juliana/Taiana were the sentimental home-town favorites in Fortaleza, Brazil’s youthful Eduarda and Elize Maia weren’t about to surrender and the see-saw first set saw six tied scores early as the teams maneuvered to figure out what the others were doing before Eduarda/Elize Maia put the set away by a four-point margin.Brazil’s Juliana/Taiana scored first in the second set for their only lead of the game. Brazil’s Eduarda/Elize Maia then rattled off four straight points and the score was tied nine different times with the last at 17-17. Eliza Maia gave her team the lead for good with a kill down the middle and another poke shot to the left side over the net to go up 19-17. After Juliana won a joust at the net to close the gap to one, Brazil’s Eduarda/Elize Maia won the set and match, scoring the final two point on a two hitting errors by Brazil’s Juliana/Larissa, the match point being a wide right kill by Juliana who was attempting to get by Elize Maia.For Brazil’s Eduarda/Elize Maia, this was just their eighth FIVB World Tour event as a team and they have now earned four final four placements that include two gold medals, one silver medal, …

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