Malkia Strikers pay for poor results

Malkia Strikers Malkia Strikers Brackcides Agala (left) watches as a Puerto Rico player attacks during a Group Two Grand Prix match in Poland on June 10, 2016. PHOTO: FIVB

Kenya national women’s volleyball team has been relegated to the FIVB World Grand Prix Group Three after losing all their six Group Two matches, in Argentina and Poland.

The highly competitive Group Two got tough for the Malkia Strikers as they failed to win a single set in all their six preliminary matches against Argentina (twice), Bulgaria, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Poland.

However, it was Sunday night's 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-17) defeat to Argentina in Wlocklawek that confirmed Kenya’s relegation to Group Three, after their rivals Canada secured a point in their final five set thriller against Bulgaria, which ended 3-2 in favour of the Bulgarians.

But captain Mercy Moim had something to smile about after she was voted the Most Impressive Player in Sunday’s match against Argentina. The Finnish-based star struck 18 points to beat Argentinian’s Tanya Acosta (11 points) for the award.