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Day 1
Tunisia and Kenya
achieves perfect start
Nairobi, Kenya, September 9, 2008- It was test worth
nail biting as Kenya sustained persistent pressure from
their rivals Seychelles before securing a 3-0 win
(25-20, 25-15, 25-23) as the Africa junior women
volleyball championship started at the Moi international
Sports centre, Kasarani. Tunisia set their first victory
in straight sets in a delayed match due late release of
the Senegalese team from the airport.
Kenya vs. Seychelles 3-1
 Rusty Kenyans struggled to settle into the game as they
allowed Seychelles to come from behind and tie at 6-6.
Seychelles captain Bonne Marielle engineered the crush
of Kenyan blocks as she scored point after point.
However ,Kenya captain Evelyn Makuto leadership skills
as she guided Kenya to a 7-6 lead at the first technical
time out.
Kenya suffered with poor basic skills like touching the
net, overstepping and poor service to allow Seychelles
to gain points. However, things changed for Kenya after
thebreather as Seychelles coach JM Roche talk inspired
the players to see themtake a 11-14 lead with Marielle,
Nourren Hillary and Lesferance Flora towered over the
net.
Things changed for Kenya as setter Nelly Nafula restored
control in Kenya’s half and fed Kamamuss Brenda and
Doreen Khaemba who picked up points. Kenya tied at 17-17
beforeSeychelles time out. But the trend did not stop as
the Kenyan reigned supreme to open a two-point lead and
pile pressure on the visitors. Susan Atemba scored the
winning point to see Kenya win 25-20.
In the second set, Kenya regained composure and took the
game to the Seychelles side as. It was Khaemba and
Makuto who dominated the proceedings as the Kenyan ruled
the roost to take a 8-6 lead at the first technical time
out. Efforts by Roche to make substitutions were not
enough as the Kenyan front line opened fire to take
a16-10 lead at the second technical time out.
With improved reception and strong service, Kenya
displayed their best show as they took advantage of
injury to Seychelles Flora who was substituted by
Toussaine Vallarie to land several points to lead 21-13.
Two consecutive time outs by Seychelles coach did not
slow the game as strong spiking of Makuto and Kamamusa
sealed Kenya’s fate allowing coach Paul Bitok to test
all his players in an aim to rest them for the Egypt
match tomorrow. Kenya went on to win the second
set25-15.
With Seychelles resolved to losing, they turned to their
small but audible cheering squad for inspiration and
picked the first two points. However, Kenya reorganized
to see Kamamuss score three quick points from the right
position to tie at 4-4. But Seychelles took the next
point with efficient blocks from Valary and Costance
Lormina. High jumps by Kenyan Khaemba and good blocks
combination of Makuto and Chemtai Ndiema secured Kenya a
8-6 lead at the first technical time out.
 Again it was Seychelles that started the point hunt with
their captain proving to be crucial in the team struggle
to save face. But their sojourn was cut short with
through their own mistakes as they failed to cover up at
backcourt with Sofola Belstania and Libero Samura Ledras
being caught off guard. But they recovered to take a
12-10 lead. Kenya held on to tie 12-12 capitalizing on
their rival’s mistakes. Both teams went to the breather
with Kenya enjoying a slim lead of16-15.
Both teams traded carefully not keen to make mistakes as
the game went to the last minutes tying at 18-18 and
19-19. With Seychelles getting the first edge in the set
at 20-21over poor Kenya defending, coach Paul Bitok
called for a technical time out to take the pressure off
his players. The breather was crucial for Kenya as the
two as they sealed off Seychelles penetration over the
net to win 25-23.
“We played well and it is a big incentive for our
players to start with a win. Now the challenge if ahead
as we meet champions Egypt. But with such a perfect
start, we hope to give Egypt a run for their money,”
said Bitok.
However, his Seychelles counterpart Roche said, Kenya
was a stronger side and his team was in the country on a
learning mission.
“We will improve in the successive matches. My reception
and service was not good. That is what opened up holes
in our defense,” he said.
Tunisia vs. Senegal 3-0
Tunisia joined Kenya with a perfect start as they
dismissed fatigued Senegal in straight sets in first day
matches of the Africa women junior championship at
Kasarani in Nairobi.
Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) technical
director Howyda Mondy turned down an appeal by Senegal
to postpone their matches. This meant that the West
Africans were thrown in the deep end after a 38-hour
wait at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport over the
acquisition of their travel Visa.
Senegal had no answers to Tunisia questions as they
relinquished their stubbornness to see them go down
fighting 3-0 sets of 25-17, 25-15 and 25-17. However,
they started strongly and pushed rivals Tunisia to the
corner as they went three points clear. But mistakes in
reception cost them as Tunisia clawed back into the game
to level the scores at 3-3.
Tinisia’s Khaoula Jouini was instrumental from the right
attack position as fatigue creeped into the Senegalese
side to see the North Africans take a 8-5 lead at the
first technical time out.
But, Senegal failed to settle as Tunisia took initiative
to control the pace and action over the net with number
Rahma Agrebi and Nouha Cherif landing several scores.
This forced Senegal coach to call for a first technical
time out with scores at 11-6. They went on to take a
16-10 lead at the breather.
With morale low, Senegal were reduced to see Tunisa
committee mistakes for them to gain more points.
Senegal’s setter Madeline Dacosta and Diop Mame Widocky
could not coordinate efficient blocks over the net to
allow Tunisia free access as Sonia Youssed Ben and
captain Agrebi Fatma dominated to lead their team to
20-14.
Poor reception continued to dog, Senegal side as they
struggled to match the skilful Tunisa who combined
dodges from Faten and Khaoula nto see them win the set
25-17.
In second set, it was an easy ride over Senegal as
Tunisia picked up from where they had left. Lack of
blocks, poor reception and players’ own mistakes helped
Tunisia to rush to a 4-0 lead to force their coach Sene
Amadou to call for the first technical time out.
Tunisia coach Rached Chebbi had the chance to reshuffle
his players as he eased off from the pressure. Senegal
Tall Awa Awa netted their first point while Dacosta and
Diop combined to have their first block of the match to
have a 5-2 margin. But it was the only session that
Senegal looked sharp as Tunisa rediscovered their groove
to go full throttle and claim a 8-4 lead the breather.
Lack of concentration in Tunisia side helped Senegal to
get some inspiration and leveled the scores at 8-8. But
Tunisia regained their form to claim a 14-10 lead by the
time Sene called for time out. It was 16-12 for Tunisia
at second time out. The North Africans held on to win
25-15.
A relaxed Rached brought in new players in the third set
as he team sensed victory. Libero Meriam Miladi showed
her skills collecting all the backcourt balls and
steadying their reception as they went to 8-3 lead at
the first technical timeout.
The effect of their long flight from Senegal and stay at
the airport clearly taking toll, Sene watched helplessly
as his side poor coordination and lack of shrpness
helped their rivals to take a 16-5 lead at the second
breather. Tunisia went on to claim the third set winning
25-17.
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