Ian Akampa and Vincent Odeke did the damage in the middle, while Gideon Angiro and Nixon Tumusiime presented the threat on the outside.
UCU Doves are back to the National Volleyball League finals for the first time since 2018. The university side defeated KAVC in straight sets at the Old Kampala Arena Sunday night to win the semi-final series 2-1.
Barely a year since surviving relegation, the Doves are back to the table of men and have set up a mouth-watering clash with regular season top-seeded side Sport-S.
The Doves were out of the blocks early to take the first set 25-22 and set the pace in the game.
And even when KAVC relied on Geoffrey Onapa and Allan Ejiet to destabilize the block, it was UCU that held their nerves in a cracking second set.
12:37 - 23.04.2023
VOLLEYBALL Sport-S elimiates holder OBB, off to the finals
The regular season’s top-seeded team defeated OBB 3-1 in the decisive Game Three to return to the finals, having missed out last season.
The two sides fluffed opportunities to close the set and went on until Elias Isiagi’s side took it 36-34 to lead by two.
Memory Dube’s side switched setters and brought on Amon Ainebyona for Martin Kalema in a bid to change something and get back in the game.
But the Doves were not about to allow an experienced side to stretch the game any further, having paid the price for that in Game Two.
Setter Joseph Okello kept switching between his middle players and outside hitters depending on the kind of first pass he got from his reception.
16:44 - 23.04.2023
VOLLEYBALL KCCA defeat Ndejje to set up final with Sport-S
The victory for KCCA means that Omuriwe has finally kicked the finals door open, having fallen at the semi-final stage last season at the hands of Ndejje.
Ian Akampa and Vincent Odeke did the damage in the middle, while Gideon Angiro and Nixon Tumusiime presented the threat on the outside.
UCU enjoyed a three-point advantage (21-19) down the stretch in the third frame but almost allowed the five-time champions back in the game at 22-21.
Isiagi called for a time-out, from which a 3-2 run saw UCU close the set and the game to book a place in the finals.
Being the only team to have defeated Sport-S in the regular season, the Doves will be confident of going into the three-game finals series starting next weekend.
National Volleyball League Semi-finals
Game Three
UCU Doves 3-0 KAVC (25-22, 36-34, 25-23)
UCU advance to the finals*
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