KENYA FALTER: Malkia Strikers lose second match as Grand Prix heads for a second round

The Kenya national women's volleyball team lost 3-0 sets of 25-21, 25-14, 24-20 against Colombia in pool O in the first round of the FIVB World Grand Prix in Mexico.

This is the second defeat for Kenya after going down to Peru in their opening match of the competition. Head coach David Lung'aho is, however, hoping to turn the tables as they head for the second round scheduled for July 3-5 in Algeria.

Lung'aho has called the team to put in more effort, saying the players fell short this year compared to their showing in the last edition.

"This time round the results do not reflect our team's performance. In this first round, we were not at our best, we won only one match and this is not good. Right now, we should not be struggling to win but rather prove to our competitors worldwide we are the best team in Africa," said the tactician.

"Our reception was poor and good volleyball begins with perfect reception. But in this competition, we did not rise to the occasion in that department and the impact is there for everyone to see," he added.

"The team has the potential to make things right but only if they will commit and believe in themselves ahead of the second round," Lungaho told FeverPitch in an interview yesterday.

Kenya will face continental rivals Algeria, Mexico and Australia in the second round of the competition.

"It is sad that we shot ourselves in the foot by showing our competitors our weakness, but this should change before the second leg," said Lung'aho.

Kenya collected only two points after a win over Mexico in the first round.

Meanwhile, Kenya Volleyball Federation Men's National League champions, Prisons Kenya, and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) women won the 2015 edition of the Laikipia County Challenge Cup over the weekend.

Prisons (men) defeated Nairobi Water (men) 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-22) to take home the title while KCB overpowered Nairobi Water (women) (25-20, 25-16, 25-23) to be crowned champions.

On their way to the final, Prisons took only 58 minutes to knock out Bungoma County by straight sets, (25-20, 25-16, 25-16) in the first semi-final, while Nairobi Water booked a final place after a 3-2 sets (25-23, 27-25, 20-25, 23-25, 18-16) win over Prisons (women) in the match that lasted two hours, 18 minutes.

The bankers forced a 3-2 (25-14, 23-25,25-20, 19-25, 15-12) sets win against Prisons (women), while Nairobi Water defeated Nairobi Queens 3-1 (25-22, 22-25,35-14,25-18) sets to book a finals slot.