Rio de Janeiro Vôlei Clube
Women's volleyball team

SESC-RJ/Flamengo
Full nameRio de Janeiro Vôlei Clube
FoundedMarch 1997 (as Paraná VC) and March 2003 (as Rio de Janeiro VC)
GroundGinásio Tijuca Tênis Clube
(Capacity: 4000)
ManagerBrazil Bernardo Rezende
LeagueBrazilian Superliga
WebsiteClub home page

Rio de Janeiro Vôlei Clube is a Brazilian women's volleyball club based in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The team competes in the Brazilian Women's Superliga and has won the competition several times while playing under different brand names, including Rexona/AdeS, Unilever, and Rexona–SESC. From the 2017–18 season it adopted the name SESC-RJ, and since 2020–21 the team has competed as SESC-RJ/Flamengo following a partnership with Flamengo and Sesc.[1]

Although they are distinct legal entities,[2] the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation regards Rio de Janeiro as the sporting heir to Paraná Vôlei Clube, combining the titles won by both clubs under the same brand names.[3]

History

It was founded in 1997 as Paraná Vôlei Clube of Curitiba and moved to Rio in 2003. The current Rio de Janeiro entity was formed in 2003 and formalized in 2004. Paraná had already competed as a guest in the Rio de Janeiro state championship and had won two Superliga titles. Looking to expand its social sports programs in Rio, sponsor Unilever - which branded the team with its Rexona deodorant and AdeS soy drink - relocated the team to the state capital.[4]

In 2004, with the renewed Rexona–Unilever partnership and the return of coach Bernardo Rezende and setter Fernanda Venturini, Rexona/AdeS won the Salonpas Cup (3–0 vs. Osasco) and captured the Rio de Janeiro state title undefeated.[5] In 2004–05 the team went unbeaten in the regular season but lost the Superliga finals to Osasco (0–3). It then won consecutive Superliga titles in 2005–06 and 2006–07; in 2007 the club completed a Salonpas Cup three-peat and claimed the Copa do Brasil.

In 2007–08 and 2008–09, the team secured two further Superliga crowns (both vs. Osasco), becoming the competition’s first five-time champion. From 2009–10 the team competed under the Unilever brand, continuing to reach Superliga finals and winning additional national titles, including 2010–11, 2012–13 and 2013–14. Also, won the silver medal at the 2013 Club World Championship after falling 3-0 to Vakıfbank Istanbul.[3]

As Rexona/AdeS in 2014–15, the club earned a third straight Superliga (tenth overall); The team placed fourth at the 2015 Club World Championship.[6] In 2015–16, Rexona/AdeS added an eleventh Superliga title (3–1 vs. Praia Clube).[7][8] In 2016-2017, the club won the Copa do Brasil, the South American Club Championship and the Superliga, then finished runners-up to VakıfBank at the 2017 Club World Championship.

As SESC-RJ from 2017–18, results were more modest, but the team remained competitive; in 2019–20 it won the Rio de Janeiro state title and the Copa Brasil, while the Superliga playoffs were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020–21 the team has competed as SESC-RJ/Flamengo.[9]

Names evolution

  • Rexona (as Paraná Vôlei Clube) (1997-2002)
  • Rexona/Ades (2003-2009)
  • Unilever Vôlei (2010-2013)
  • Rexona/Ades (2014–2016)
  • Rexona Sesc-RJ (2016-2017)
  • Sesc RJ Vôlei (2017-2020)
  • Sesc RJ/Flamengo (2020-present)

Team

Women's team of Sesc-RJ/Flamengo for the 2025–26 season.[10]

Current Squad
No. Player Nat. Position Height Date of birth
1 Vivian Lima Brazil Setter 1.82 m 14 Oct 1999
5 Clara Rodrigues Brazil Setter 1.71 m 24 Mar 2005
20 Giovana Gasparini Brazil Setter 1.75 m 5 Jul 1994
10 Tainara Santos Brazil Opposite 1.87 m 9 Mar 2000
12 Camila Mesquita Brazil Opposite 1.82 m 27 Feb 2000
Nr. Vittoria Kuehne Brazil Outside hitter 1.84 m 20 Jul 2006
8 Mikaela Hestmann Brazil Outside hitter 1.81 m 11 Oct 2007
11 Karina Souza Brazil Outside hitter 1.78 m 30 Nov 1998
15 Helena Wenk Brazil Outside hitter 2.00 m 11 Feb 2005
21 Simone Lee-Wank United States Outside hitter 1.88 m 7 Oct 1996
3 Adria Silva Brazil Middle blocker 1.83 m 11 Aug 2004
4 Julliana Gandra Brazil Middle blocker 1.92 m 1 Mar 2004
7 Lorena Viezel Brazil Middle blocker 1.90 m 21 Jul 1999
14 Maša Kirov Serbia Middle blocker 1.89 m 16 Aug 2005
2 Victoria Stadler Brazil Libero 1.66 m 15 Apr 2004
22 Laís Vasques Brazil Libero 1.72 m 12 Feb 1996

Previous seasons

Titles

References

  1. ^ Merguizo, Marcel (June 29, 2016). "Time de Bernardinho se une ao Sesc-RJ para 'manter grandes atletas no país'". Folha de S.Paulo. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  2. ^ "Rio de Janeiro Vôlei Clube". Empresasdobrasil.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Superliga Feminina 13/14: Unilever é eneacampeã". Confederação Brasileira de Voleibol (in Portuguese). April 27, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "Rio de Janeiro é confirmada como nova sede do Rexona". Uol Esporte (in Portuguese). May 4, 2004. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  5. ^ "Rio de Janeiro é confirmada como nova sede do Rexona". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). May 4, 2004. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "Final Standing — Women's Club World Championship 2015". FIVB. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  7. ^ "Rexona-Ades contrata levantadora americana para substituir Fofão". ESPN Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  8. ^ "Rexona vence o Praia e é campeão da Superliga feminina de vôlei". O Tempo (in Portuguese). April 3, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  9. ^ "Flamengo e Bernardinho celebram parceria com o Sesc-RJ no vôlei: "Momento histórico"". ge.globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  10. ^ "Sesc-RJ/Flamengo » planteis :: Volleybox Feminino". Volleybox Feminino (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on March 25, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rio_de_Janeiro_Vôlei_Clube&oldid=1323828447"