Volleyball: No win in sight as junior Malkia Strikers find going tough in Slovenia

National Under-23 volleyball team receive instructions between sets against Cuba during the Under 23 World Championships in Slovenia. [FIVB]

Under 23 squad lose to Cuba in FIVB World Championships.

Kenya junior national volleyball team’s wait for a first FIVB Women’s U23 World Championship win continues after they lost by straight sets to Cuba in last evening’s Pool B match at Hala Tivolo hall in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Unlike the first three identical losses to champions Brazil, Bulgaria and Turkey, Catherine Mabwi’s side showed character and resilience, but they couldn’t match the Cuban’s quality, falling 4-0 (15-9,15-10,15-7,15-12).

Ailama Cese Montalvo and Diaris De La Caridad Perez Ramos scored 12 points each to inspire Cuba to their first win in the tournament.

Prisons Kenya attacker Yvonne Wavinya scored eight points to emerge Kenya’s highest points scorer in a match that lasted 55 minutes.

Cuba outclassed Kenya in the opening set with a strong 15-9 win.

However, Kenya never gave up as they improved as the game progressed but setter Gretell Elena Moreno Borrero kept them at bay.

Kenya’s best moment came in the fourth set when they temporarily took a 5-3 lead for the first time in the match and even in the tournament.

However, the Cubans fought hard to tie the scores at 11-11 before eventually running away with a (15-12) win. Kenya will wrap up the preliminary round matches today at 3pm against Japan.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Volleyball Federation national league resumes today at Wote Unoa Grounds in Makueni County after a one-month break.

Former men’s champions General Service Unit (GSU) will be hoping to extend their stay at the top of the table when they take on Nairobi Prisons as second-placed Co-operative Bank lock horns with champions Prisons Kenya in an eagerly awaited tie.

GSU, who are on a nine-game winning streak, are expected to hand debuts to youthful signings in Abiud Chirchir (left-attacker) and Simon Kipkorir (middle-blocker).

“Everybody is fit and ready for the sixth leg. Our target is to return to Nairobi with all the six points before our final league match against Co-operative,” GSU team manager Nicholas Kimeli said.

Women’s champions Kenya Pipeline and perennial rivals Prisons Kenya will skip the sixth leg in Wote as most of their players are currently with the national team preparing for African Cup of Nations cum World Championship Qualifiers in Yaoundé, Cameroon on October 7-14.