Puhket, Thailand | Kenya women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, are out of contention for the FIVB World Championships despite a spirited 1-3 (17-25, 25-15,15-25,14-25) loss to Poland at the 4000-seater Saphan Hin Stadium in Phuket, Thailand.
Kenya won a set in the encounter in a much-improved performance from their opening match.
Kenya had on Saturday fallen 3-0 at the hands of Germany in their opening Pool “G” encounter.
Kenya and Vietnam, who are winless in the competition, will face off in a dead rubber match on Wednesday from 1pm EAT.
Germany and Poland, who have already qualified for the second round, having won two of their pool matches, will face off on Wednesday from 4:30pm EAT to determine who tops the pool.
Kenya coach Geoffrey Omondi said that he was not satisfied with Monday’s result, saying they now have no choice but to win the remaining match.
“Bagging a set from the third-ranked country is indeed something, but I would have wanted a better result. I really wanted to win the fourth set and force a fifth set, and who knows, we would have won the match, but unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way. At least we have tomorrow to rest and recover ahead of the Vietnam match on Wednesday,” said Omondi.
“Vietnam plays a fast game, and so we need to be at our best should we want to win against them. There has been great improvement from the team, individual brilliance, teamwork, and coordination, and so we just need to extend the same in our next match. We lost to Vietnam during the International friendlies, but we look forward to returning the favour,” he added.
Poland coach Stefano Lavarini acknowledged that Kenya gave them a run for their money.
“Just as I had mentioned in the earlier interviews that Kenya was not pushover, and that’s exactly what we experienced today. We struggled all through, but I’m glad we were able to contain them and win the match. They are a physical side that can pull a surprise,” said Lavarini.
