Malkia Strikers ease past Burundi

Celebrated volleyball team Malkia Strikers eased past Burundi in a ruthless straight sets performance of 25-8, 25-9, and 25-11 to close Kenya's group engagement at the ongoing CAVB Africa Nations Championships in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Paul Bitok-coached side dominated the game from the first serve to the last play, a match-winning block by Gladys Ekaru.

Kenya's attackers were too hot for Burundi's blockers from the word go and could not keep up as Kenya never looked back once they took a 3-2 lead in the first set, stretching it all the way to the end, widening the gap with every score.

The second and third sets were no different as Kenya took total dominance in a match that they were the favorites to win.

Burundi only seemed to come alive in the third set, but even in that set one would argue that the Kenyan girls were playing more relaxed after gaining a solid lead, and the Burundians managed to go past 10 points only in that set.

Debutant Esther Mutinda, featuring in the absence of experienced Jane Wacu was rested for this game though the absence of the experienced setter has been minimally felt as Mutinda slotted in perfectly in the last two games against DR Congo and Tunisia.

Earlier, Bitok had decried that the team had experienced problems in the setter position against Cameroon but following Mutinda's exploits in the last three games, that will not be a reason to worry for the tactician even with Cameroon in the picture again.

Malkia Strikers started the tournament on the losing end, doing down by straight sets to Cameroon in the opening game before bouncing back against DR Congo and Tunisia to confirm their semi-final berth.

Kenya will take on hosts Rwanda in the semi-final, with another meeting against Cameroon being a probable one on the cards if they make it to the final.