African teams falter at FIVB World Cup

By Oscar Pilipili and FIVB

It was business as usual for African representatives, Kenya and Algeria, after each team dropped sixth straight match at the 2011 FIVB Women’s World Cup in Japan.

Kenya’s top scorer Everlyn Makuto managed game’s high 19 points and Most Impressive Player Award but this was not enough to stop the Dominican Republic from winning 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 26-28, 25-19) in Okayama.

Algeria’s bid to achieve their first victory in the tournament remains a dream after they went down against Germany 0-3 (10-25, 8-25, 19-25) in a match at Momotaro Arena yesterday.

Tournament leaders Italy claimed their sixth victory following a comfortable 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-17) win against South Korea in Sapporo.

Kenya captain Bracksides Agala attacks Dominican blocks in their FIVB World Cup match Friday. [PHOTO: FIVB]

In the first match, Kenya struggled in first two sets but started playing with more confidence in the third and secured their only second set of the tournament.

Makuto hit 19 points, while Lydia Maiyo contributed 15 and Mercy Moim 14.

The Dominicans’ top scorer once again was Bethania De La Cruz with 18 points.

Struggled with serves

Dominican Republic held the advantage in the blocking category with 12-10 and also were better in service points on 7-4.

The Dominicans got off to a good start when Candida Arias blocked Maiyo and the Kenyans struggled with serve of Milagros Cabral.

Kenya had a couple of good spells in the second phase thanks initially to two Dominican errors and a pair of spikes by Moim, and then two great blocks by captain Bracksides Khadambi on Prisilla Rivera and Makuto on Cabral.

An error brought up set point and a routine spike by Rivera put the Dominicans 1-0 up. Kenya coach Paul Bitok called a time out at 1-6 after more errors allowed the Dominican to cruise to 8-5 lead.

Kenya started out on a more positive note in the third set, taking a 3-2 lead on a service ace by Moim but spikes by La Cruz, Cabral and Eve put the Dominican 8-5 in front.

A thumping drive down the line by Maiyo put 13-12 up and a pair of Makuto rockets helped them extend their lead to four points at 18-14.

But then the wheels fell off and they dropped six straight points, prompting Bitok to call his players off court.

Three dropped points later – the third a brilliant block by Khadambi on Cruz – had Dominican coach Marcos Kwiek calling a timeout and the Kenyans were up and running again.

Big hits by Mercy drew the teams level at 23 and 24 before Kenya earned two set points – one through brilliant defending by libero Judith Tarus.