Kenya edge Morocco to book World Championship ticket

National women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, have booked their ticket to next year's FIVB Women's World Championships set for Netherlands and Poland on 26 August to 11 September. 

Paul Bitok's charges dispensed Morocco in straight sets 3-0 ( 25-12, 25-21, 25-11) in the semi final of the ongoing Confederation of African Volleyball Federation (CAVB) Women's African Nations Championship in Kigali Rwanda to book a ticket to the Final set for later Sunday and also clinch the ticket to the global event. 

The Kenyans showed intend from the first whistle, knowing all too well that their quest was bigger than any other country's participating at the Championship.

Malkia are out to dethrone Cameroon of the African Championship title that the latter won in 2019. The two teams have, in the recent past, traded wins the latest being a 3-0 victory for the Cameroonians in the opening match of the ongoing championship. 

In 2020, Kenya beat Cameroon on home soil to qualify for Tokyo Olympics. A year earlier Malkia had also picked a win agaist the West Africans at African Games final in Rabat. 

The first set went go the East Africans 25-12 but the North Africans returned for the second set ready for turn the tables on Malkia. The side led 3-1 but a quick turnaround by Bitok's charges saw them head to the first Technical Timeout (TTO) leading 8-4. The difference stretched to seven points at the second TTO as Kenya led 16-9. 

The Moroccans rallied to come to within three points to equalling the score, forcing Bitok who had made substitutions to bring four of the second team players to call for a time out. He also substituted Sharon Chepchumba back in for Emmaculate Chemutai with Esther Mutinda back in setting duties in place of Joy Lusenaka. Veronica Adhiambo remained in play for Mercy Moim. 

The three-point difference, however, remained as Morocco's brilliant display saw Kenya commit unforced errors. Experience came into play for Kenya as they went on to win the set 25-21. 

Morocco celebrated every point of the third set as if it was the match point, with their technical bench constantly urging them to 'go get them'. That, however, did not move Malkia Strikers as they led 8-4 at the first TTO and extended their lead to nine at 14-5 with witty attacks and monster blocks. Kenya continued the onslaught to win the march 25-11.