Sesc RJ Flamengo (W)
Wikipedia - Rio de Janeiro Vôlei Clube
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.
Although they are distinct legal entities, 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.
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.
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. 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.
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. In 2015–16, Rexona/AdeS added an eleventh Superliga title (3–1 vs. Praia Clube). 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.