Eregi women’s volleyball team bask in victory

By Oscar Pilipili

Exuberant Eregi women’s volleyball team displayed sterling show to win this year’s Kenya Teachers Colleges Sports Association (KTCSA) Ball Games trophy.

Eregi played well to beat Meru in straight sets of 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-22) in the final of the Championships at Murang’a Teachers College on Thursday.

Eregi coach Catherine Nabiswa used powerful attackers including Captain Stella Lumati, Joyce Sabai, Ebby Musabai, Emily Auta, Pharice Chebet and Susan Karembo to destabilise the defence of Meru and easily claim the opening set 25-13.

Eregi had missed a game point at 24-12 when Lumiti service hit the net, but same mistake from the opposite side handed the winners set point.

Eregi with good attacking and blocking skills dominated the second set with Lumati playing the role of chief destroyer. They went ahead to claim the set 25-22.

Meru improved their blocks and attacks and matched Eregi by points in bid to secure the set and push the match into the fourth set.

Meru caught up with Eregi at 13-13 before the Western zone team regained composure to win the match 25-22.

The result meant that Eregi completed the Championships with unbeaten record, having won all their matches from preliminaries to the final.

Nabiswa attributed the victory to endurance and great team work.

The official conceded that they had easy ride to the title because there was no any meaningful opposition in the event.

“Volleyball contest was slightly competitive because we didn’t encounter any stiff challenge on way to the final,” she said.

She singled out Lumati who is former student of Mukumu High, Musabai (Malava) and Chebet (Lugulu) as the engine of the team.

Eregi beat Mosoriot 3-0 sets while Meru defeated Kilimambogo by same margin in semis to advance to the final.

Kilimambogo beat Asumbi 3-2 (24-26, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-12) in women’s play-off to claim bronze.

Eregi had its second gold of the games after they beat Kamwenja 42-18 in women’s handball final to achieve their 12th title in the annual event.

In men’s category, Kibabii were declared winners after they overcame Kamwenja 33-21 in the final showdown.

The high-riding Eregi also bagged women’s netball honours after they defeated Asumbi 46-31 in the final.

Mosoriot overcame Machakos 39-26 in play-offs to clinch bronze.

Kaimosi won men’s hockey following 2-1 victory against Kericho while Kamwenja beat Asumbi 2-1 in play-off to bag bronze. In women’s category, Asumbi beat Murang’a 2-1 in final played at Mang’u High.

Joseph Maina, the hockey coach for Kerugoya Girls High, praised the ever rising standards of hockey in colleges’ games.

Maina who was an official said: “We’ve witnessed very competitive hockey and this can be proved by narrow goal margin in most matches.”