Kenya national women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers succumbed to a third straight loss to Brazil in Japan on Wednesday, October 3 in the FIVB World Championship.
Malkia lost in scores of 25-13, 25-10, 25-16 and now occupy the fifth position in Pool C and will have to win their last tie on Thursday against the Dominican Republic to keep their dream of making it into the second round of the competition.
Head coach Japheth Bulali said losing the first set in the hands of the defending champions made things difficult for the team in the second and third round.
“We started well. We are supposed to challenge Brazil. They capitalized on our weakness in reception. We had no good combinations tonight. Maybe next time we meet we will play better,” he said.
Captain Mercy Moim said: “Brazil is the best team in the world. We tried to control their serve, reception, and attack. Our young players got some good experience in this match. We played our best. That’s what we did.”
Emmaculate Chemutai scored nine points, the highest for Kenya, but that could not stop the Brazilians from winning, cheered on by the partisan crowd.
Kenya started off brightly with right-attacker Mercy Moim spiking hard, but Brazil reacted quickly through setter Carolina Da Silva for a 16-12 leading score.
Brazil’s confidence started growing with top scorer Tandara Caixeta capitalizing on Kenya’s mistakes.
Too often the Kenyans lost points on attacks that were blocked back over the net and fell into open space. Caixeta played well on attack as Brazil rolled to take the set 25-13.
Natalia Perreira played a big role in the second set and that led the defending champions to a 13-4 lead at the second technical timeout. Brazil then increased the tempo before claiming the second set 25-10.
The South Americans picked from where they left in the second set, with middle blocker Rosamaria Montibeller opening the episode with some impressive spikes as they finished off the game in style.
Elsewhere, Africa’s other representatives in the three-week championship, Cameroon, were also left with a mountain to climb after going down with straight sets against the hosts Japan on Wednesday.
The 2017 African champions must now defeat winless Argentina with straight sets and a higher different ratio on Thursday in their final Pool A matches to qualify to the next round.
The championship which has attracted 24 teams across the globe, will serve out on October 20.
Kenya Squad:
Jane Wacu, Janet Wanja, Trizah Atuka , Edith Wisa, Lorine Chebet, Christine Siwa, Mercy Moim, Noel Murambi, Sharon Chepchumba, Leonida Kasaya, Violet Makuto , Emmaculate Chemtai, Elizabeth Wanyama, Aggripina Kundu
