Veronica Adhiambo powers Malkia Strikers to third victory in Cameroon

For the first time in the ongoing CAVB African Nations Championship in Yaounde, Cameroon Malkia Strikers opposite hitter Sharon Chepchumba was given a starting berth as Kenya dispensed Uganda 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-14) to make it three wins in as many matches. 

Coach Luizomar de Moura had, elected to go back to his usual starting lineup but for Trizah Atuka who was maintained for the third consecutive match in place of Belinda Barasa. 

Chepchumba was making a comeback in the starting lineup after being sidelined with a slight injury against Rwanda and sparingly used against Burkina Faso.

Playing at the Mfandena Indoor gymnasium for the first time in the competition, having played their opening two at Palais Polyvalent des Sports, the home girls brought the same energy from previous matches to the game, walking away with maximum points. 

"We had watched Uganda play Morocco on Thursday and picked valuable material to analyse our opponents for the day and they responded well to the game plan. We are happy with the performance. 

Chumba was starting her first match and had a good performance and we are confident she will be ready for the knock-out stages," coach Moura said after the match. 

Uganda drew first blood going up 3-2 but Moura's charges, powered by the indefatigable Veronica Adhiambo who scored three aces in a row to give Kenya the lead, got their momentum going to lead 8-4 forcing Uganda in to a timeout.

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"She (Veronica) is definitely a weapon for the team and her services are getting better with each match," the tactician said on her performance. 

With Joan Tushemereirwe on service duties, the Kenyan side seemed to have lost their footing and were unable to handle three of her services, keeping Uganda close. 

The spell was, however, short-lived as Kenya got their groove back on to go ahead 16-9 and coach Tonny Peter Lokany called for yet another timeout to restrategise, a break that had little impact for the Ugandans. 

Kenya had the chance to kill the set at 23-10 but gifted Uganda three for 24-14, Atuka finishing the set off with an easy dodge that caught everyone off guard.  

As the teams prepared for the second set, the Ugandan tactician, Lokany, could be seen giving his charges an earful on the importance of sticking to his instructions and to the game plan as they layout a plan to give the top-ranked African side a run for their money. 

His pep-talk, delivery notwithstanding, seemed to have worked as Uganda came alive at the start of the second set, going ahead 6-2 and Kenya, for the first time in the match, were forced into a timeout. 

A three-point scoring spree brought Moura's charges to within a point at 6-5 but the difference difference was soon back to three at 9-6 with Uganda leading. 

Kenya ate into that advantage, one point after the other, going on to tie the match at 10 points but found themselves trailing by three again at 14-11, as Uganda kept capitalising on a lapse in defense and poor reception, sending the entire Ugandan bench into a frenzy. 

Seemingly unbothered by the turn on events, the Kenyan side continued with their game plan and were soon ahead by two at 16-14 and there was no stopping them, despite Uganda putting up a spirited fight to reclaim the lead as they lost the set 25-16. 

"The conditions of the court contributed to the slow start in the second set with lighting being key and it took time to adjust. That is, however, not an excuse and we will be working on any shortcomings in our training before facing Morocco in our penultimate group stage match," the tactician added.

Another slow start saw Kenya go behind 3-1 at the start of the third set but worked their way to level scores at four, assume lead and put a five-point advantage, at 10-5, between them and their East African neighbours. 

Despite a few mistakes on defense, the Kenyan girls kept their advantage and led 20-14 before the tactician could make his first changes resting Emmaculate Nekesa for Rose Magoi and Chepchumba for the youngster Loice Simiyu as Belinda Barasa came in for Edith Wisah. 

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The first two additions bagged three points in a row straight off the bench, Simiyu off of an easy attack while Magoi bagged two aces to take the score to 24-14 before skipper Mercy Moim finished the job for the Kenyan side. 

"I am happy with the performance of my team against a high-ranking side like Kenya. We needed this experience in the group stage as it helps us sharpen ahead of the knock-out stages where we are likely to face tougher teams. 

Our reception was definitely our weakest point and my attackers were also unable to beat the high block from the Kenya," Uganda's coach Lokany offered after the match.