Malkia Strikers set for Sesi Sorocaba friendly

National women’s volleyball team Malkia Strikers will, on Wednesday 20 July, play their second friendly match against top Brazilian club Sesi Sorocaba as preparations for the World Championships continue.

Malkia are in Brazil for a two-month long FIVB-sponsored camp ahead of the global showpiece set to be hosted jointly by Netherlands and Poland from 23 September to 15 October.

Bitok picks positives from Malkia Strikers loss in friendly match

Sesi Sorocaba is a top professional club based in Sao Paulo that competes in the Brazilian top-flight league, the Superliga. They and are three-time league champions.

Last week the team played their first friendly match, losing by straight sets to Osasco Volleyball Club (25-22, 25-19, 25-23) but head coach Paul Bitok believes there was tremendous improvement noted in the test match that came after a three-week training in Sao Paulo.

“The second friendly game that was to be played with Osasco has been rescheduled to next week on Friday to enable us play with Sesi Sorocaba,” Bitok confirmed.

The team is also scheduled to play against the Brazilian Under-21 team currently preparing for the U-21 continental competition coming up next month.

“Then the team is scheduled to travel to face off the Brazil U-21 national team in Saquarema Town near Rio which is the excellent center of Brazilian volleyball Federation. This journey is eight hours away from Osasco via road. The team is scheduled to travel on Thursday so as to participate in the matches set for Friday and Saturday,” Bitok confirmed.