2007 Women’s World Championship

Complaining improper reception, Kenya loses to Peru

Hamamatsu, Japan, November 4, 2007 -: Peru finally found some of the form they had been looking for in the World Cup when they overcame a ragged Kenya team 25-16, 25-9, 25-19 in the third day of Women’s World Cup here at Hamamatsu, Japan on Sunday. Kenya team complained the same problems in reception and digging as well as the low physical fitness that didn’t allow them to apply their strategies.

The match opened with one of the longest rallies in the tournament so far and it looked as if it could be a long day in Hamamatsu. But the Kenyans struggled to get their game together while the Peruvians looked the better organized of the two teams as Milagros Moy led them to an 8-1 lead at the first technical timeout. The TTO seemed to upset the rhythm of server Mirtha Uribe and her next effort sailed long, giving the Kenyans a little more hope and confidence. Slowly, they clawed back the points as their defending improved and some of their spikes started to find their mark. In truth, many of the points were coming from errors as both sides struggled to find their best form. But the Kenyans dug in midway through the set and pulled back to within a point at 14-13. But then Moy took control, setting up match point with a glorious spike, allowing the Peruvians to finish things off with a firm block on Kenya's Edna Rotich.

Even behind the simple serves of 17-year-old setter Zoyla La Rosa, the Kenyans found it hard to mount an effective attack at the start of the second set and tumbled to an 8-0 deficit at the first TTO, with Peru's Mirtha Uribe outstanding on defense and offense. Kenya picked up their first point after the break on a spike by Catherine Wanjiru, but the Peruvians were finally enjoying their volleyball and were in no mood to let the Kenyans join their party. Moy continued to enjoy improved setting from La Rosa and Luren Baylon also fired down a pair of good spikes to put Peru 16-5 up at the second TTO. Jackline Barasa tried hard to keep Kenya in the game with a gentle pushover and a spike, but Baylon continued to pile on the pressure as Peru headed for victory. A receiving error gave Peru set point and a Zamudio spike finished things off at 25-9.

Kenyan finally took the lead in a set for the first time when Dorcas Ndasaba hit a hefty spike that made the score 2-1. Suddenly, the Kenyans were playing good volleyball and they matched Peru all the way to the first TTO when they actually led 8-7. Carla Tristan was starting to fire up the Peruvians and then Zamudio took charge as the South Americans finally opened up a gap over their African opponents. Peru led 16-12 at the second TTO. Receiving errors allowed the margin to widen to 20-14 but decent spikes by Wanjiru and Ndasaba saw Kenya pull back to 23-19. But the Kenyans were unlikely to put together a long enough rally to get past the Peruvians and a spike into the gap by Mirtha Uribe gave Peru matchpoint, which they clinched when the Kenyans again failed to handle a Peruvian serve.



Photo Caption

Janet Wanja of Kenya setting

By Tarek Al-Adwar from Japan