Sport-S, UCU draw first blood in Aziz Damani National League Playoffs Series
Abraham Orapa (L) of UCU spikes as Nemo Stars players try to block his powerful hit in vain during Game One at Nsambya on Sunday. PHOTO BY I. KEZAALA
Volleyball- In the women’s Serie A, Vision Volleyball Camp showed they can engage the top gear that saw them dominate some seasons ago if they put their heads to it.
The cold and chilly weather at Sport-S Grounds in Nsambya did little dampen the mood as the Aziz Damani National Volleyball League Playoff Series tipped off with a bang.
All the teams were intent on keeping the ball flying and with a new sponsor on board, the players were reinvigorated to put in their best shifts since the season started.
Hosts Sport-S were quick off the blocks as they outmuscled, outwitted and overwhelmed Kampala Amateur Volleyball Club (KAVC) 3-1 to draw first blood in the best-of-three series.
Each set was a closely contested affair with Sport-S rallying on the maturity and experience of Volleyball Cranes captain Dickens Otim to take the best-of-five sets lead 29-27 in the first. They won the second 26-24 but Matthew Mwenyi’s power attacking and super blocking helped KAVC rally to make it 2-1 with a 25-22 win in the third.
The Lugogo-based club couldn’t, however, repeat those heroics in the fourth despite taking the lead. A few blocking errors made them pay the price as Sport-S rallied from 17-20 to take the decisive set 25-23.
The other men’s semifinal was equally thrilling and fiery as Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono edged former champions Nemo Stars 3-2. UCU won the first set 25-16 but lost the next two 25-19, 25-17 before they could bounce back in the fourth with a 25-18 result to force the decider which they also managed to edge 17-15.
VVC’s vision
Despite the Sport-S versus Nkumba game in the women’s Serie A not being able to be played out due to poor light as it darkened early because of day’s rains, both teams got a test of the action.
The, now, rescheduled match ended at 2-2 after the umpires called off play and both sides will be raring to go at each other in the repeat at the MTN Arena Lugogo tomorrow.
Both teams finished with two sets apiece and with no time for a decider, they agreed to have a rematch of Game One tomorrow as per the Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) stipulated rules.
In the other match, Vision Volleyball Camp (VVC) showed they can engage the top gear that saw them dominate a couple seasons ago if they put their heads down with a clinical 3-1 win over Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono.
UCU, too, showed a lot of improvement despite going down 21-25, 25-15, 25-23 and 25-21.
SEMIFINAL PLAYOFFS
Men - Serie A
UCU 3-2 Nemo Stars
Sport-S 3-1 KAVC
Women – Serie A
VVC 3-1 UCU
Sport-S 2-2 Nkumba
(game postponed)
Men - Serie B
JVC 2-3 MUST
COBAP 1-3 Police
Men Serie C
KU 2-3 St Mark
Destiny 1-3 Mulago
