Kenya’s Malkia Strikers Fall to USA in World Cup Opener

Kenya women’s national volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, have started their World Cup competition on a low key by going down 3-0 to United States of America in Japan on Saturday, September 14.

The Paul Bitok-coached side only came closer to their opponents in the second set when they hit 20-25 after finishing a distant 14-25 in the first set.

Despite their spirited fight inspired by super-setter Janet Wanja and Captain Mercy Moim, the Kenyan team failed to beat the American women in the third set leading to the end of the battle.

Notably, Kenya are the 2019 All Africa Games champions while USA have also done quite well in their previous competitions. They (USA) won their second straight FIVB Volleyball Nations League title earlier this year in a thrilling five-set win over Brazil and later qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games by winning FIVB Tokyo Qualification Tournament Pool C.

They had finished on the podium at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after defeating Netherlands 3-1 in the bronze-medal match, and they are the only country to have won medals in women’s indoor volleyball in each of the last three Olympic Games.

Prior to this match, Bitok had promised Kenyans a good show at the World Cup contest.

“I believe we have prepared well and ready to face our opponents at the World Cup. We worked on a few weak areas spotted during the Africa Games in Morocco with the aim of putting up a proper competition in Japan. I can therefore confidently say that we will not disappoint the country,” he told Opera News.

Here is the Kenyan squad in Japan;

Jane Wacu, Janet Wanja, Agripina Kundu, Elizabeth Wanyama, Emmaculate Chemtai, Violet Makuto, Sharon Chepchumba, Leonida Kasaya, Noel Murambi, Mercy Moim, Edith Mukuvilani, Trizah Atuka, Carolyne Sirengo and Lorine Chebet.

The FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup tournament continues till September 29 in Japan.