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2008
Women’s junior African Nations Championship
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Egypt surprised the organizers and Seychelles
achieved first victory
Nairobi, Kenya, September 10, 2008- Poor reception
and lack of blocks by Kenya cost them the match
against Egypt in the second day of the 2008 Women’s
Junior African Nations Championship here at at
Kasarani Hall in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday.
Egypt vs. Kenya 3-1
The defending champions, Egypt were in top form as
they overcame the local girls 25-19, 27-29, 25-22
and 25-20. Kenya’s head coach, Paul Bitok lamented
over their laxity in these vital departments, in a
match he thought his side deserved to win. “In that
match, we had very bad reception. I don’t know what
is going on because if it carries on like this we
will perform badly. But that was a very closely
contested match and I believe that we are still
firmly on the chase,” he said. Kenya struggled to
get their game together while their opponents looked
the better organized of the two teams as Abd Nahla
led them to an 8-6 lead at the first technical
timeout. Slowly, the local girls clawed back the
points as their defending improved and some of their
spikes started to find their mark. In truth, many of
the points were coming from errors as both sides
struggled to find their best form. But the Kenyan
side dug in midway through the set and pulled back
to tie twice, at 9-9 and 10-10. Elbitar Dina of
Egypt took control, setting up match point with a
glorious spike that allowed her side grab 25-19 for
the first set. Even behind the simple serves of
Dina, the ladies in red found it hard to mount an
effective attack at the start of the second set and
trailed to an 8-5 deficit at the first technical
time out, with Nahla standing out in defense and
offense.But a series of combined attacks from
Makuto, Chemtai Ndiema and Brendah Kamamos helped
the young Kenyans force a 11-11 tie, before taking a
13-11 lead.Kenya continued to pick up points
inspired by captain, Everlyne Makuto and were
finally enjoying their volleyball and were in no
mood to let the Egyptians join their party. The
hosts continued to enjoy improved setting from Nelly
Nafula and Chemtai also fired down a pair of good
spikes to take a 16-14 lead up at the second break,
before deservedly winning the set 29-27. Come the
third set and things started to look up for the
Kenyans who continued with the lead advantage when
Makuto hit a hefty spike that made the score 3-1.
Suddenly, they were loosing their good volleyball
and their oppornets matched them all the way, to
lead 8-5 by the first technical time out. Receiving
errors allowed the margin to widen and Kenya were
unlikely to put together a long enough rally to get
past their well-oiled rivals, watching in disbelief
as their 3-3 tie was cancelled with a 6-18 by the
second technical time-out.This must have jostled
their minds up, that they picked point after another
to inch closer at 15-18. But their hopes to seal
their second set went up in smoke as they eventually
lost 25-22. In the fourth set, Kenyans came a
rejuvated side as they came from 3-5 down, and
scored three points in succession to lead 8-5. But
that wasn’t enough as Egypt won 25-20
Seychelles vs. Senegal 3-1
Senegal have been bundled out of contention for the
Africa Junior women volleyball championship after
they lost their second match in a row against
Seychelles 3-1 of 25-17, 25-20, 19-25 and 25-21.The
West Africans started the match strongly, but could
not equal the composure and skills their rivals were
displaying. After rushing to a 5-2 lead, Seychelles
were able to seal off the loopholes and level the
scores at 6-6.Senegal’s Magnette Mbow and Mbayane
Ndoye were strong over the net as they held out to
deny Seychelles the crucial points and took a 8-7
lead at the first technical time out. However,
things were sour for Senegal on return as Seychelles
rediscovered their top gear and took the game to
their opponent’s court dictating the pace over the
net. At the second breather Seychelles Marielle
Bonne, Hilary Nourrick and Lormina Constance were
exceptional in blocks and spikes as they restricted
their rivals to gain points only through their own
mistakes. Seychelles won the set 25-17. The pace was
restored in the second set as Senegal coach Amadou
Sene tried to slow down the game with substitution.
With a 8-3 lead Seychelles looked set to stroll to
the victory with easy. However, a technical time out
by Sene did the trick as they Senegalese came back
stronger and resolved to dodges though Awa Awa and
Madelin Dacosta. Seychelles led 14-11 and
16-13.Seychelles coach J. M Roche advised her team
to improve blocks and this was Senegal’s nightmare
as they lost several point to stand at 21-14 by the
time their coach called for time out. It helped to
slow down Seychelles sojourn but it was not enough
to stop the island country from victory of 25-20.The
third set saw Senegal stage a better resilience but
still measured poorly in reception and court
positioning. But after the settling down, it was
business as usual as they sort to claim Seychelles
scalps. But after a fine start, they lost their
rhythm and allowed Seychelles to take control of the
game and lead 11-12 and 13-16. But again the game
tilted to Senegal side as they fought save face and
restore the game in their favour. They leveled the
scores at 17-17 and went on to win the set 25-19 to
make it 2-1.Poor service by Seychelles proved to be
their Achilles handing Senegal points with service
out of court. Salimatata Ndoye coordinated well with
setter to claim a 8-5 lead. But bad reception from
Senegal Libero Tall Awa Awa saw the Seychelles level
the scores at 8-8 and made it 9-8 before Sene called
for time out. The two sides tied at 14-14 before
Seychelles surged forward to take 16-14 lead. It
went point after point as Senegal gave it every
strength but a stubborn Seychelles held out to claim
a 25-21 win.
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