Beach volleyball results: Congratulations girl, we've made it!

Kenya National Beach Volleyball team players Gaudencia Makhoha (left) congratulates her team-mate Edna Rotich (right) after geting a point during their Africa Zone Five Beach Volleyball Qualifiers at the Jamboree Campers Haven Beach, May 08, 2015. Kenya won 2-0. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Kenya booked a ticket to this year’s All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville as Africa Zone V women beach volleyball qualifiers came to an end yesterday at Jamboree Beach Club in Mombasa.

It was an assignment well done after the Kenyan girls finished second behind Rwanda after losing the last match to Egypt.

Against the Egyptians, Kenya were unlucky after they went down 2-1 at the hands of their well-oiled opponents during the match watched by a partisan crowd that included Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Commissioner of Sports Gordon Oluoch and Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir.

The Egyptian girls won the first set 23-21 after tying 3-3, 12-12 and 20-20. Kenyan duo of Captain Edna Rotich and Gaudencia Makokha ensured parity after a 21-17 score in the second set.

The third set was closely fought and Egypt took the lead from the first whistle before they wrapped up the match 15-11.

“Our serves and receiving were not the best, but we gave our best,” said coach Sammy Mulinge in a post-match interview.

“It is good we have qualified for the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville in September,” said Mulinge.
In earlier matches, Tanzania scared Kenya after their match was stretched to the third set as both sides tied 1-1 after two sets. Kenya won the first set 21-11, but relaxed in the second, which saw the Tanzania pair of Everlyne Alberth and Hellen Richard win 21-19.

Coach Mulinge seemed not happy with the tie and instructed his players to get their act together in the third set. Being the good students they are, Rotich and Makokha did not disappoint and wrapped up the set 15-7.

Kenya had earlier beaten Rwanda 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) and dismissed Uganda 2-0 (21-9, 21-8).

In other matches played yesterday, Egypt lost 2-0 (21-15, 21-19) to Rwanda, but beat Uganda 2-0 (21-10, 21-13), who bounced back to hit Tanzania 2-1 (21-15, 17-21, 15-11). Rwanda won gold as Kenya settled for silver. The bronze went to Egypt, while Uganda was ranked fourth with Tanzania, who ended the qualifiers without a win, finished last.

The top four teams automatically qualified for the continental games.