Brian Wanyama
National Women Volleyball team, Malkia Strikers Wednesday night lost their second match at the Paris Olympics against Poland.The Malkia Strikers went down 3-0 (25-14,25-17,25-15) in a Pool B match staged at South Paris Arena in Paris, France.
Despite outside hitters Pamela Adhiambo and Veronica Adhiambo emerging the best scorers of the Pool B second match played at the South Paris Arena in Paris,France.
The duo returned a combined 27 points but it was too little to give Malkia Strikers their first ever win at the Games , losing 25-14, 25-17 and 25-15 against the Women’s Nations League bronze medalists.
Pamela, who emerged as the second best scorer in the first match against Brazil, topped the scoring charts on 14 points with 13 kills and one block while Veronica had 11 kills and two blocks.
However ,despite showing flashes of brilliance in the attacking department, poor reception ghosts returned to haunt the Kenyans as Poland led from start to win the final set 25-15, punching their ticket to the quarter finals.
Pamela, who has perfectly filled the void left by injured attacker Sharon Chepchumba, was elated to emerge the top scorer of the match.
“Although we’ve not won the match, I’m very happy to have emerged as the best scorer. This shows we’re improving and soon I’m sure we will get the elusive win. They have a good defence but we managed to get points from them.
“If we prepare well against Japan, we can get a win and end the wait for the first triumph. I hope the stars will align for us on Saturday,” said Pamela.
Setter Esther Mutinda bemoaned her team’s lack of concentration in the late stages of each set.
“We’re letting our opponents go past us even after starting very well. If you look keenly, we’re also giving up when they go above us and that makes it impossible for us to close in again,” she said.
Head coach Japeth Munala is however not giving up on their first ever win and has already set his eyes firmly on Japan.
“We’re improving in every match and getting 17 points against Poland makes me start dreaming of the first ever set win. We improved on our attacking but reception was not good this time around.
“We will have to be good in all the departments if we’re to get a win against Japan,” said Munala.
Kenya will battle Japan in their final preliminary match on Saturday at 10pm.This is the fourth time the Malkia Strikers are participating in the Olympics having finished 12th in the 2000 Sydney,2004 Athens,and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
