Kenya have one foot in the FIVB World Cup set to be held in Japan in November after romping to the finals of the ongoing Africa
Cup of Nations volleyball tournament at the Africa Nazarene University.
The Kenyan girls booked the final ticket without breaking a sweat as they demolished a youthful Senegalese side in straight sets 25-10, 25-15, 25-18 and will meet the winner of the North African derby between Egypt and Algeria, which was being played late Monday.
Coach David Lungaho was, however, not in a celebratory mood preferring to only congratulate his charges for playing well, but said the hard part is yet to come.
“I am happy to be in the finals and we are on course of making it to the World Cup after losing out to Algeria last year, but the hardest part is yet to come as we have to win the finals on Wednesday (tomorrow) to be sure of going to Japan,” Lungaho told Feverpitch.
On her part the team captain Brackcides Agala, who had s superb game both in attack and defence said she was elated that her team was in the final and will be looking forward to winning Wednesday’s final.
“I am happy with the way we played and can say that the hardest part is done, but we have to fight hard in the finals to ensure that we play at the World Cup,” Agala said after the match.
It looked an easier match for the Kenyans from the word go as the Senegalese simply had to answer to the attacking prowess of Prisons youngster Everline Makuto.
Different Clash
Makuto, who had shown tremendous improvement since the tournament started, was in a different class but she also had the supporting cast of Mercy Moim, Lydia Maiyo, Diana Khisa, Agala and setter Janet Wanja.
Apart from the attacking prowess of Makuto, Moim also weighed in with good work in ball service, which didn’t give the Senegalese easy time in retrieving the ball to their setter so as to initiate the attack.
Despite the good work of Diouck Niane in attack for Senegal in the first set, it proved mission impossible as the Kenyan attackers, led by Maiyo in right attack, answered with equal measure.
The Kenyans finished off the visitors with a quick attack by Khisa at the centre as the hosts won the set 25-10.
The visitors, however, managed to put up some resistance in the second set and at one time led Kenya 3-5 before the hosts went up a gear with good ball service once again by Moim and also expert backcourt play by Agala and libero Mildred Odwako.
Sensed Blood
The teams tied at 5-5, 6-6 before the Kenyans sensed blood and went on the offensive with the introduction of Edna Rotich for the tiring Moim.
The change worked and the Kenyans opened a huge gap at 22-14 before wrapping up the set at 25-15.
Coach Lungaho introduced Prisons setter Jane Wacu in the third set and it was business as usual for the attack as Wacu combined well with her Prisons teammate Agala to finish of the visitors 25-18 and a passage to the finals.