Wafalme go down fighting in clash with Morocco

National men's volleyball team, Wafalme Stars, lost their second match at the on-going CAVB Africa Nations Cup in Kigali, Rwanda, going down 3-1 to highly ranked Morocco. 

Wafalme came into the match on the back of a historic victory against Egypt by three sets to two on Wednesday while Morocco had won by straight sets against Tanzania. 

The Kenyans were not letting Morocco, despite their status and reputation, have it easy on the court and were first to bag a set before fighting hard in the preceeding three sets but came short. 

With one match, against Tanzania, left, Kenya still has a chance to qualify for the quarters. Maximum points against Tanzania and the outcome of the Egypt versus Morocco match will determine whether or not Kenya proceed.

In the Morocco match, coach Gideon Tarus made one change to the squad that started in the Egypt match, skipper Enock Mogeni beginning in place of club teammate Peter Kamara. 

The first team players Brian Melly, Cornelius Kiplagat, Simon Kipkorir, Dennis Omollo, and Levis Ouma remained in his first six, with Sam Juma and Noah Bett handling the libero duties, with the former on reception and Bett in for the dig. 

Wafalme took an early two-point lead at 3-1 and were on a roll, leading 8-3 at the first technical timeout (TTO). Morocco cut the deficit to two at 9-7, mostly with unforced errors on the part of Wafalme but the East Africans recovered to lead 13-9 forcing the opponent into their first team timeout. 

The advantage was against cut to two at 14-12, this time Tarus asking to have a chat with his charges on the team's first timeout. Kenya led 16-12 on the second TTO and stretched the advantage to six points at 19-13 to take Morocco on another strategy trip off the court. 

Kamara was substituted in, with the score reading 21-17 in favour of Kenya, coach Tarus resting Ouma as Kenya went on to win the set 25-19. 

Kenya assumed a slim 8-7 lead in the first TTO of the second set but Morocco took the lead at 9-10 and held on to head to the second official breather leading by two points 14-16. They created their biggest lead at 16-20 but the Kenyans clawed back to come within the points of leveling the score at 19-21. The Moroccans, however, held on to win the set 25-22. 

Mogeni was rested for Elphas Makuto in the third set that, just like the second, was a see-saw in the initial stages with the scored tied at 7 point with Kenya on possession. Kiplagat's service was well received and the Moroccans capitalised on a defensive mistake to float their attack right behind the blockers and out of reach for the players manning the back court to head to the first TTO leading 8-7. 

The East Africans quickly recovered and were ahead again, credit a three-point gap at 9-12 but the score was tied at 12 points prompting Tarus to call for a timeout. Morocco led 16-15 I'm the second TTO. 

As the two sides stepped back on the court, David Lugh'aho, the team's assistant coach could be heard urging his charges to go for the blocks but it was the same mistake that saw Morocco win a point immediately as they went on a scoring spree to put five points between the two teams at 20-15 as Kenya went on to lose the third set 25-17.

Kenya needed to win the fourth set to be assured of at least a point against Morocco and they started well, leading 8-5 on the first break. Morocco, however, leveled the score at nine points and went on to assume lead at 9-10. Despite Kenya calling for a timeout, the North Africans remained relentless in their attack to head to the second TTO leading 14-16. 

The Moroccans extended their advantage to four points at 18-14 and the Kenyans looked resigned to fate despite the technical bench repeatedly calling for calmness on the court. Again, the home boys came to within two points of equaling the score at 21-19 but it was not enough as the opponent rallied for a 25-21 victory in the fourth set to avert a decider set.