L. MathekaVolleyball: KPA emerge victorious in 5-set thriller against KDF
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 22.04.23. | 20:51
The dockers were scheduled to play GSU in this leg of the matches but the match was shelved.
Sammy Mulinge's charges Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men's volleyball team have a reason to smile as they seem to have put their woes behind them to reclaim their good form in the league.
Facing off with on-form Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in a Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league match, the dockers came from behind to win the match 3-2.
Mulinge's charges found themselves trailing 25- 22 in the first set in the quickest of the long sets as it took the military side just 24 minutes to take the lead.
The second set to closely fought with the Mombasa-based side pulling one back in 26-24 to level the sets and it was game on.
"The opening sets my players were too tense and we couldn't stabilise especially in reception. They had the mentality that KDF have been in good form and that affected pur play.
We made changes in rotation going into the second set and that helped change the trajectory for us. We knew if we gave them a chance to use their middle they would kill us. We had to play effective services to make sure they play most of their balls out of formation," offered Mulinge.
A see-saw and an entertaining one for that matter ensued in the third set as KPA set out in search of the lead but the military men held on for a 25-23 win.
Well aware that their goose would be cooked if they allowed the Elisha Aliwa-coached men to run away with the set, Mulinge's charges fought, capitalising on KDF's unforced errors, to win the set 25-23 a set the stage forna decider.
The dockers led 8-5 at the change over and did not let the advantage slip as they went on to win the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
"Our back court was good from the second set and we used that to our advantage to come back to the game. The players, after winning the second set remained focused and despite losing the third set they kept the faith and we managed to capitalise on KDF's slump in intensity in the fourth and fifth sets to win," Mulinge further explained.
The tactician maintains that the win is a great boost to the team adding that they still are hopeful of making the tip four for a place in the playoffs.
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