2007 Women’s World Championship


Poland overcomes Kenya in three sets

Sendai, Japan, November 7, 2007 -- Poland had little trouble beating the winless Kenyans at Sendai City Gymnasium in the fifth day of the 2007 Women’s Volleyball World Championship on Wednesday.

Running out 25-12, 25-10, 25-15 winners in the first game of the day, Poland improved their win- loss record to 2-3, dropping Kenya to 0-5.

Form stated that Poland should dominate Kenya, but the Kenyans came out playing more controlled volleyball than they had in the past and matched the Poles in the early stages. Catherine Wanjiru and Brackcides Khadambi came up with good spikes to counter efforts by Katarzyna Skowronska-Dolata, Mariola Zenik and Eleonara Dziekiewicz. The Kenyans matched the Poles to 6-6 but then slipped behind three points. Two good spikes by Dorcas Ndasaba helped pull the Kenyans back to within a point at 9-8 and a booming hit by the same player closed the scores to 11-9. But after that, the Poles started to run away with the set. Maria Liktoras kicked things off with two big blocks on Ndasaba, and Skowronska-Dolata came up with a huge spike. Poland's pressure then started to tell on the inexperienced Kenyans and errors started to creep into their game. In fact, their only point in the latter stages came from a mis-hit by Khadambi. Klaudia Kaczorowska brought setpoint with a spike and a firm block by Milena Rosner on Wanjiru sealed the set.

Good work by Rosner -- a block and three spikes -- saw Poland to an early lead in the second set but two Poland errors brought the scores back to 6-5. Rosner continued her torrid form with a big bomb that reignited Poland's attack, while Kenya's spiking went wayward with three shots hitting the net and one going wide. As a result, the Poles were 10 points ahead at the second technical timeout and facing only occasional opposition. A great double spike by Ndasaba followed by a long shot by Agnieszka Bednarek brought the Kenyans into double figures, but a gentle tap by Bednarek and a block by Liktoras on Ndasaba finished off the set.

Things didn't get better for the Kenyans at the start of the third set. After spikes by Rosner and Liktoras, two Kenyan receiving errors and a block by Agata Sawicka, Kenya was 5-0 down, forcing coach Sammy Kirongo into calling an early timeout. Ndasaba responded with a full-on crack down the middle, but the Poles had the momentum while the Kenyans had very little. Ndasaba showed her frustration when, after the Kenyans had failed to receive a serve by Magdalena Sliwa, she booted the ball high into the stands. At that point, the Poles were 13-6 up, but then they lost their concentration and good work by Rotich, Ndasaba and Jackline Barasa brought the scores to 15-11 in Poland's favor. Rotich continued to play well for Kenya, but Kaczorowska led the Poles' attack toward victory. The end came with a whimper when a spike by Bednarek hit the net and trickled over.



Photo Caption

Agnieszka Bednarek (POL) spikes against Brackcides Khadambi (KEN)

By Tarek Al-Adwar from Japan