Nemostars expect better second round performance

Sport-S 3-0 whitewash of UCU Doves Wednesday night gave them a six-point advantage over Nemostars going into the break, with the defending champions winning all nine of their games.

“The performance was lukewarm for us, with glimpses of very good potential to play very high-level volleyball,” Nemostars captain George Aporu said.

“We have met our target of being in the top four as a way of ensuring that we are part of the playoffs. We lost two games which we thought we should have won but the final result said otherwise,” the receiver-attacker added.

With an inconsistent lineup through the first round, Nemostars found themselves struggling and dropping points in games they were expected to win with relative ease.

Receiver-attacker Esau Ecil, setter Smith Okumu and middle blocker Bernard Malinga missed games, forcing the club into changes in the line up, with Aporu sometimes called upon to play in the middle.

Ndejje Elites and KAVC forced the Kololo based outfit into the decisive set and took a point each while both UCU Doves and Sport-S came from behind to win against them.

UCU went a set down but came back to take maximum points with a 3-1 victory while Sport-S dug themselves out of a 2-0 hole to win 3-2 and subject Nemo to their second loss of the season.

“We ended first round with a win and we plan to pick it up from where we stopped in the second round.”

Eyes on the prize

If there is anything Nemostars have displayed this season, it is the fact that there will not be much to separate them and Sport-S in the fight for the title.

After defeating the champions in the National Club Championship final, Nemostars only failed to close the first round league encounter but showed glimpses of a side ready to challenge for the title.

The side has already lost more games than they did the whole of last season and must now regroup for the second round that starts early next year.

“Our immediate second round target is to ensure early entry into the playoffs positions and not be part of the last-minute mathematics and this will mean that we need to win all our second round fixtures, something we can achieve,” the Volleyball Cranes skipper revealed.

“Once we are in the playoffs then we shall concentrate on our next assignment, which is winning the title.”

During the break, Nemostars is one of the Ugandan teams expected to take part in the Kipchumba Karori Eldoret International Tournament slated for December 13-15 in Kenya.

The club has also expressed interest in playing the CAVB Zone V Club Championship slated for January 22-28, 2025.

But having topped the regular season log before choking to fall to KAVC in the semifinals last campaign, Nemostars will be hoping to finish the season on high.

Nemostars first round performance

Matches Played: Nine

Matches Won: Seven

Matches lost: Two

Points: 20

Position: Second