Malkia Strikers lose to Red Star in Serbia

National women's volleyball team Malkia Strikers lost the first of two friendly matches in Belgrade, Serbia, going down 3-0 (25- 19, 25- 19 and 25-17) to the country’s champions Red Star Belgrade in match played at the Kovilovo Resort gymnasium.

The team is in Belgrade for their final leg of preparations ahead of the Women's World Championships set for Netherlands from 23 September to 15 October. 

The second friendly match is set for Sunday from 5pm (6pm ) EAT against the Serbian national team B. The main team, who are the World Championship title holders is out of the country preparing for the same event Malkia Strikers will be participating in. 

In Saturday's match, coach Luizomar de Moura handed a starting berth to Edith Wisah and Lorine Chebet as middle blockers, Noel Murambi and Mercy Moim as outside hitters, Emmaculate Nekesa as the setter and Sharon Chepchumba opposite with Agripina Kundu as the libero for the day. 

Kenya went up 4-2 and stretched the advantage to 7-4 before leading 8-5 at the first technical timeout (TTO), but Moura's charges had not been perfect so far, losing three points on service to that point. 

Red Star tied the score at nine points but a diagonal attack from Moim and a Chumba block had the difference back two at 11-9. 

The score was again level at 12 points before the Serbian side could lose their first service, gifting Malkia a crucial point. 

The first timeout was called with Kenya in the lead at 14-12 as coach Ratko Pavličević felt the need to get his house in order. 

Murambi shares Malkia Strikers' game plan ahead of World Championships

Red Star took the lead at 17-18 and it was Moura's turn to have a talk with the eleven-time African champions who had found themselves trailing after some poor decision making moments on the court. 

It was quite evident that the Serbian champions were not letting Kenya have it easy as the left handed opposite Tara Taubner led the scoring for her side, gaining a two-point advantage for the first time at 21-19 prompting another timeout for Malkia. 

Trailing 23-19, coach Moura brought in Veronica Kilabat for Nekesa in the setting position as Chumba gave way for Violet Makuto but that did little to stop Red Star who went on to win the set 25-19. 

The Kenyan bench trusted the first set starters to go in for the second set with Murambi opening the scoring to both sides on service, her second going into the net to gift Red Star a point.

Malkia took the lead again at 4-2 but Pavličević'scharges leveled the score at four, five and six points before assuming lead at 7-6, leaving Malkia to do the chasing as they trailed 8-7 at the first TTO in the second set. 

Red Star made it a two-point advantage at 11-9 but Chebet's strong attack pulled one back before Chumba sent a service too strong for the Serbs to handle to level the score at 11.Moim gifted Kenya the next two points for 13-11 and Red Star need a break to restrategise. 

Libero Sanja Đurdjević proved crucial for Red Star, with precision in reception and a fighting spirit that saw her digs save her side from attacks that looked set to count for Kenyan. 

Moura felt the need to make changes Gladys Ekaru got her chance on the court, replacing Chebet as Kenya held the lead at the second TTO with a two-point advantage. 

Murambi gave way for Veronica Adhiambo after the serbians had taken the lead at 18 -16, 19-16 and 20-16 before Kenya could call for a timeout. 

There was, however, little that the side could do to stop Red Star who continued to feast on Kenya's mistakes leading 22-17, 23-17 to see Kenya frustrated and unable to recover as they lost 25-19. 

For the third set, Veronica Adhiambo was started in place of Murambi in the only change Moura made in the starting lineup for the set.

Belgrade notebook: My first time in Europe and I am in love with with the Serbian capital

Kenya drew first blood but Red Star scored back-to-back to lead 2-1 and 3-2 before Kenya assumed lead at 4-3. The tables, however, quickly turned and Kenya found themselves trailing 6-4 and were behind 8-5 at the first TTO. 

Sensing a defeat at 9-5, Kenya's bench called for a timeout. Even as Murambi returned to the court, the Serbs still led 11-8 and 11-9 as Chebet paved way for Ekaru. 

The difference was stretched to four at 13-9 and Kenya needed to receive better to salvage the set. The Serbian, however, capitalised on poor communication on Kenya's part to take the biggest lead in the match at 16-10 

The six-point difference remained at 21-15, despite the Kenyans having earlier cut the deficit to three at 18-15 only to go right back to their ways as they went on to lose 25-17 

Final team 

LEFT 

1.Mercy Moim 

2. Noel Murambi 

3. Meldinah Sande 

4. Veronica Adhiambo 

MIDDLE BLOCKERS 

1. Edith Mukuvilani 

2. Gladies Ekaru 

3. Lorine Chebet 

4. Belinda Barasa 

SETTERS

1. Emmaculate Nekesa

2. Veronica Kilabat

OPPOSITE ATTACKERS

1. Sharon Chumba

2. Everline Makuto 

LIBERO

1. Agripina Kundu 

2. Yvonne Wavinya