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The two sides will be separated in a decisive game next weekend, and Omuriwe will be hoping for more of the same for her seasoned campaigners.
KCCA Ladies recovered from their Game One defeat to win Game Two and level the National Volleyball League semi-final series Saturday evening at the Old Kampala Arena.
With their backs against the wall, KCCA needed to win to stay alive.
And it was a combined effort across the team that had the Kasasiro Girls over the line in a well-contested affair.
Supernatural Mbakisimira struck through the middle to get KCCA going with the first point of the game.
KCCA started to break away midway through the set and led 16-13, forcing Ndejje into a timeout to talk it over.
The KCCA net defence was working to deny Ndejje.
Aine Nyeitera came on for Daphine Mpumwire and served to level matters at 16-16, forcing KCCA into a timeout.
Whenever the reception was right for KCCA, Mbakisimira continued to find gaps in the Ndejje block.
Phiona Naziite’s wayward set saw Catherine Ainembabazi’s attack connect with the antenna before crossing to give KCCA a 22-20 lead.
Zainah Kagoya and Jojo Muindi then combined to block Ainembabazi as KCCA took a tightly-contested first set 25-23.
The Kasasiro Girls continued to set the pace in the second set and led 11-09.
Ndejje recovered with good defence to lead 17-15 and force KCCA into a timeout.
The lead stretched to 20-15, and with a five-point advantage, Ndejje were in control.
Shilla Omuriwe needed another timeout to stop the bleeding, but the defending champions held on to take the set 25-22 and level matters.
KCCA’s defence continued to make the difference and took the third frame 25-19 to close in on victory.
Ndejje were not going down without a fight, though, and once they got their noses in front in the fourth frame, there was no turning back.
Improved net and backcourt defence saw Waguma’s charges take the frame 25-19 to force a decisive set.
The university side then started the decisive set with a 3-0 run, but KCCA responded with six unanswered points to lead 06-03.
At the switch of sides, KCCA held a slim one-point lead before breaking away to lead 12-09 and force Ndejje into a timeout.
There was, however, no stopping KCCA as they took the game to force a decider slated for next weekend.
Margaret Namyalo was quiet on offence but led the team’s backcourt defence.
Kagoya’s presence in the KCCA frontcourt troubled Ndejje’s offence.
The two sides will be separated in a decisive game next weekend, and Omuriwe will be hoping for more of the same for her seasoned campaigners.
National Volleyball League Playoffs
Game Two
KCCA 3-2 Ndejje (25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11)
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