Little by little, the chemistry between Leila and Sandra Pires is becoming more visible and yielding results. The red-and-black duo competed in the second stage of the Banco do Brasil Beach Volleyball Circuit this weekend in Florianópolis, coming close to the semifinals.

The victory over the duos Semírames/Isabel Grael (ES/RJ) and Mirlena Santos/Érika (AM/RN), by 2-0 and 2-1 (18-13 / 18-15) and (18-10 / 16-18 / 15-11), respectively, showed the quality of the red-blacks. But, for Sandra, the performance could have been better.

"We still have a lot of training to do, especially since we know our technical quality. But we need patience, which we lack at times due to anxiety."

Sandra and Leila were defeated before the semifinals by their partners Thati and Andréa Martins (PB/AM), who beat the red-blacks by 2 sets to 0 (18 to 16 and 18 to 10).

The 3rd stage of the Banco do Brasil Beach Volleyball Circuit will be in Foz do Iguaçu (Paraná), between March 6th and 9th.

Photo: Silvio Ávila