Malava thump rivals Cheptil: Defending champs off to a good start

Reigning national boys volleyball champions Malava of Nzoia Region thrashed bitter rivals Cheptil of Mau 3-1 (25-23, 28-26, 20-25 and 25-16) to storm the semi-finals of this year's Airtel Rising Stars national secondary schools Term Two B games currently on in Kisumu. They had dismissed Northern's Waberi 3-0 (25-11, 25-10 and 25-11) in their championship opener. Their aim to win was evident as they composed themselves despite a slow start to win the match that was termed as a final before the finals.

Malava coach Shadrack Tovoko told Feverpitch that he was well aware of the challenge Cheptil pause in the championship thus the need to up their game as the competition advances. "They are a very good side that can easily snatch our crown that is why we had to play our hearts out. It is just the beginning and the best of what all teams have to offer can only be expected in the finals," Tovoko said.

His Cheptil equal Fredrick Were on the other hand said that his boys let emotions get the better of them which resulted in the defeat. "It was a very emotional game for us because of the history we share with them (Malava) in this games. We have met several times before with results have gone either way. It was also a moving tie because of the family ties shared by players in both teams," Were said.

Were added that they will correct the mistakes made in the match as they hope to play Malava again in the finals. "We committed unforced errors and our major undoing was the service and touching the net. It cost us a lot as we awarded our opponents easy points."

Cheptil's Dismus Rono and Benard Rono were tackling their brother Elvis Kimutai of Malava while the some team players were cousins. City boys Hospital Hill bounced back from their disappointing 3-0 (25-19, 25-20 and 25-16) loss to Cheptil to beat Waberi 3-0 (25-8, 25-9 and 25-6) and revive their hopes of advancing to the semis. They however, have an uphill task as they clash with Malava in their last pool B match while Cheptil have an easy to the semis against Waberi who are out of the competition having lost two matches.

In the girls battle, 22-time national champions Lugulu of Nzoia booked their last four slot with a convincing 3-0 (25-8, 25-8 and 25-19) conquest over Aberdare champions Tetu. They had beaten home girls Sega 3-0(25-17, 25-20 and 25-5) in the event opener. Sega bounced back from poor start to register their first victory and increase their chances of qualifying for the semis.