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Joan Tushemereirwe and middle blocker Zainah Kagoya got into their element in the second set to swing the momentum.
KCCA Ladies defeated Sport-S 3-1 in Game One of the women’s National Volleyball League to edge closer to a first title in 17 years.
Faced with a Sport-S side that dominated the regular season to finish as the top seed, Shilla Omuriwe’s charges showed character to take the advantage in the three-game series Sunday evening at the Old Kampala Arena.
Sport-S got off to a flying start in the game and had KCCA on the back foot for the entire first set.
Comfort Tumusiime and Renata Kamahoro found their way through the KCCA block to give Sport-S offence early in the game but went cold down the stretch.
Malic Damulira’s side served well to start the game and troubled KCCA’s first pass. Agnes Akanyo, who started in the middle ahead of Saidat Nnungi, also offered great net defence as the Nsambya side cruised.
The fightback saw the Kasasiro Girls close the gap by two points (18-16), but Sport-S held their nerve to take the set 25-20 and lead.
If that was supposed to be the wake-up call KCCA needed, it worked.
Joan Tushemereirwe and middle blocker Zainah Kagoya got into their element in the second set to swing the momentum.
With much better reception in the second set, KCCA setter Jojo Muindi used her options well to destroy the Sport-S block.
Once KCCA were level, there was no turning back. Supernatural Mbakisimira rose to the occasion to give Omuriwe’s side options on offence.
KCCA went on to take the set 25-18 and won the next three to seal the deal.
“We have to forget about this and focus on the next game,” Omuriwe told Pulse Sports after the game.
Having led last year’s semifinal series 1-0 and lost 2-1 to Ndejje Elites, KCCA will be aware that there is still work to do.
The stakes will be even higher in Game Two, with Sport-S fighting to stay alive and KCCA looking to close the series.
KCCA came from a game down to defeat Ndejje in the semis but will try to avoid a decider when the two sides meet again on Saturday.
National Volleyball League Finals
Game One result
Sport-S 1-3 KCCA (25-20, 18-25, 21-25, 23-25)
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