Thaisa Menezes is a Brazilian volleyball player, who plays as a Middle-blocker for Gerdau/Minas and the Brazilian national team. She is a two-time Olympic champion, five-time World Grand Prix champion, and two times Club World champion. She is considered one of the most successful Brazilian volleyball players nowadays.
Thaisa Daher de Menezes was born on May 15, 1987, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Until the age of 13, she was engaged in swimming, but then, following the example of her brother, she switched to volleyball. She joined the youth club Tizhuk club, where developed her skills. In a short time, she was called the youth Brazilian national team. In 2005 she became the world youth champion, even though she was younger than most of her opponents.
Thaisa Menezes made her professional volleyball debut in 2001 for Tijuca Tenis Clube, but after only one season in the team, she moved to MRV/Minas to play in the Brazilian Superleague. During the three years in the team, she won the title of the Mineiro Championship and also the silver at the Brazilian Superliga in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, Salonpas Cup 2002/2003, and Top Volley International 2002/2003. Meanwhile, at an international level, she won the gold at the World Championships U20 in 2003 and 2005, as well as the bronze at the 2003 Women’s World Championships U18 and 2005 Pan American Cup.
In 2005, she signed with Rexona/Rio de Janeiro in a three-year contract. With her in the team, the club won three times Brazilian Superliga, three times Carioca Championships, twice Salonpas Cup, as well as once Top Volley International and Brazilian Cup. During this period, at the international level, she won the gold at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the 2007 South American Championship, Final Four Cup 2008, and the 2008 World Grand Prix, as well as the silver at the 2007 FIVB World Cup.
In 2008 Thaisa Menezes signed with Volei Nestle/Osasco to continue being in one of the world’s top volleyball clubs and bring them plenty of trophies. She played in the club for eight seasons, winning the Club World Championship (2012/2013), the South American Club Championship three times (2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012), Brazilian Superliga twice (2009/2010, 2011/2012), Brazilian Cup twice (2008/2009, 2013/2014), Paulista Championship five times (2008/2009, 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015, 2015/2016), Salonpas Cup (2008/2009). At the international level, at that period Thaisa Menezes won her second Olympics gold at the London 2012 Olympics. The national team also World Grand Prix three times (2013, 2014, 2016), South American Championship twice (2011, 2013), Pan American Cup (2011), Pan American Games (2011), as well as the silver at the 2010 World Championships and bronze at the 2014 World Championships.
In 2016, she made a transfer to Turkey to play for Eczacibasi VitrA to win the Club World Championship 2016/2017 and the bronze from the Champions League. In a match in the Turkish Superleague, she injured her ankle and was out of the field for a while.
A year later, however, Thaisa Menezes returned to Brazil and signed with Volei Hinode Barueri. Without big success with the team, she continues being an important part of the Brazilian national team, playing at the Volleyball Nations League, Pan American Cup, and 2018 World Championships, but without winning a medal.
In 2019, Thaisa Menezes signed with her current club Gerdau/Minas. With them, she won the gold at the South American Club Championship twice (2019/2020, 2021/2022), as well as the Brazilian Cup twice (2020/2021, 2022/2023) and Brazilian Superleague twice (2020/2021, 2021/2022). In March 2019, she scored her 1,000th blocking point in the Brazilian Superleague.
She has personal awards, including MVP of the World Grand Prix 2013, Top Volley International 2014/2015, South American Club Championship 2019/2020, and Brazilian Superliga 2020/2021.
Thaisa Menezes photos
