Sensational Malkia Strikers Stage Mighty Comeback To Down Cameroon

12th July 2019

Following the hard-earned victory, Kenya finishes top of the group and thus will avoid hosts Egypt in the semis, instead they will now face off with Senegal while Cameroon plays the home side in Saturday’s games

Kenya national womens volleyball team, Malkia Strikers. PHOTO | Daily Nation
Kenya national womens volleyball team, Malkia Strikers. PHOTO | Daily Nation
SUMMARY
  • The national women’s volleyball team did exceptionally well to come from two sets down to stun Cameroon 3-2 in their final Group B match at the African Women Volleyball Nations Championship in Cairo
  • The West Africans looked to be heading for a clean sweep of their new rivals, but Malkia Strikers exhibited a commendable team effort to win the next two sets to force the game into a tiebreaker
  • Cameroon won the first two sets 25-18 and 25-16 before the Kenyans raced back to contention winning 27-25 and 30-28 before slamming the door on Cameroon’s faces with a 15-10 win in the decider

CAIRO, Egypt- The national women’s volleyball team Malkia Strikers stormed back from two sets down to stun Cameroon 3-2 in their final Group B match at the African Women Volleyball Nations Championship in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday night.

The West Africans looked to be heading for a clean sweep of their new rivals, but Malkia Strikers exhibited a commendable team effort to win the next two sets to force the game into a tiebreaker.

Following the hard-earned victory, Kenya finishes top of the group and thus will avoid hosts Egypt in the semis, instead they will now face off with Senegal while Cameroon plays the home side in Saturday’s games.

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“I am happy we won it was a tough game. We started slow and were not fully in the game but we made some changes and key players changed the game for us.

“We explored their weaknesses and I am happy we did our part. We can use this momentum as energy for the next game,” head coach Shaileen Ramdoo underlined.

Cameroon won the first two sets 25-18 and 25-16 before the Kenyans raced back to contention winning 27-25 and 30-28 before slamming the door on Cameroon’s faces with a 15-10 win in the decider.

Ramdoo fielded an experienced starting seven with Brackcedes Agala and Edith Wisa starting in the middle.

“The way the game started, it seemed like we were going in for a straight sets loss and that is not Kenya. We have shown that we have the stamina and we earned our respect. We will bring this Cup home,” setter Janet Wacu offered.

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Cameroon were better starters leading 8-6 and 16-13 at the first and second Technical Time Outs (TTOs). They continued the same form in the second set leading 8-2 and 16-7 at each punctuation.

The third set seemed to be heading in similar direction with Cameroon leading 8-3 at the first TTO, but squeezed the game to 16-15 at the second.

They took the lead for the first time in the game going 18-16 up before stretching to 20-16, but let the feet off the gas peddles for Cameroon to race back and tie the game at 23-23.

The point for point wave continued until the two sides tied at 25-25 before Malkia hit two quick ones to win the set.

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In the fourth set, Cameroon led 8-6 and 14-16 and the first and second TTOs, looking all set to bounce back from their stumble.

Kenya kept their chase and the point for point game raced on before Kenya nicked it to set the game to a tiebreaker.