SLOVENIA HERE WE COME:Kenya, Egypt qualify for World championships

Kenya Team celebrate during their game with Egypt during 2016 Women's U23 African Nations Championship Ranking at Kasarani Stadium on Monday, Oct 24, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Kenya and Egypt U23 women’s national volleyball teams have qualified for the 2017 World U23 Championship slated for August 27 – September 3 in Slovenia.

Kenya had to sweat to beat a resilient Paul Bitok’s Rwanda 3-1 (25-23,23-25,25-22,25-19) in a thrilling encounter at the Kasarani Gymnasium yesterday to secure the remaining ticket to Slovenia.

This was just after the Egyptians had finished their remarkable unbeaten run in the tournament by thrashing a depleted Botswana by straight sets of 25-16,25-10 and 25-19 respectively.

Tournament’s best attacker Yvonne Wavinya shook off a finger injury to propel Kenya to second finish with nine points, three behind Egypt.

“It is a great feeling because this is the third time I am beating a team coached by Paul Bitok. We have been working towards this qualification and I am glad we have managed it. The girls played their hearts out,” Kenya coach Catherine Mabwi told Feverpitch.

“The introduction of Pauline (Wafula) paid off. She really changed the game. But it is Wavinya’s injury that cost us the second set. However, after medical attention she came back to carry the team.”
Rwanda coach Paul Bitok congratulated Kenya for winning and said they deserved to qualify.

“I am proud of my players. We lost to a stronger team. They are the African champions who have a great history in volleyball and played with alot of determination. But we learnt positive lessons from the tournament and we hope to come back stronger,” said Bitok.

The match started off with a neck and neck affair at 4-4 before Ann Lowem’s spike gave Kenya an 8-6 lead into the 1st Technical Time Out.

However, poor service and reception cost Kenya after the break as Rwanda went 10-12 up. Kenya coach Catherine Mabwi was forced to call for a Time Out as her side trailed 15-12.

Poor reception from Kenya saw Rwanda take a 10-12 lead, Kenya coach Catherine Mabwi had to call for time as her side trailed 15-12.

The decision paid off with Yvonne Sinaida’s spikes narrowing the gap to two points before Rwanda went into the 2nd TTO leading 16-13.

Mabwi then brought in Pauline Wafula for Sinaida.

Wafula combined well with Lowem to draw level 19-19 as the tempo of game increased with both teams exchanging leads before Uwimbabazi Leo and Irakoze Belyse’s errors handed Kenya a first set 25-23.

Both teams exchanged the lead before Kenya forced attack errors from Uwimbabazi Leo and Irakoze Belyse to claim the first set 25-23.

Much like the first set, the second set went back-and-forth between the two teams. With the set tied at 2-2, Kenya went on a 8-5 run into the 1st TTO thanks to Wafula, Wavinya, Lowem and Doreen Marani’s spikes.

Kenya suffered an injury blow midway through the set when Wavinya was forced out with a finger injury paving way for Edna Mwombe as the hosts led 16-12 into the 2nd TTO.

After the break, Rwanda capitalised on Kenya’s concentration lapse to tie the scores at 17-17 before Lowem and Wafula made it 20-18.