Nairobi News

SportsWhat's Hot

Kenya go down to the US


Kenya lost 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-13) to World champions USA in a FIVB World Cup match played here on Sunday morning in Okayama, Japan.

The American women, who have won four matches in a row following an upset loss to Serbia, improved their overall win-loss record at this World Cup to 5-1.

It’s also the first time since 2003 that the United States recorded four successive wins at the World Cup.

Kenya struggled to find rhythm throughout the match the only bright moment for them being when the scores were tied at 5-5 during the second set, before Karch Kiraly’s side pulled away.

So dominant were the Americans, that the team could afford to get away with 19 errors, a majority of which were net serves yet still restricting Kenya’s receivers to the back foot.

However, Kenyan coach David Lung’aho lauded the team for putting in a great effort.

GOOD MATCH

“I think today’s match was good because my team played a very strong team. We have a lot of respect for USA. I have also admiration for their coach whom I really wanted to meet,” Lung’aho said.

“As a team, we did our best, though our best was not good enough, but it’s something we can learn from. The positives we take from this match are more important than the result,” he added.

Like in all previous matches, top scorer Mercy Moim and captain Brackdies Agala were the standout players, but the US front three of Megan Easy, Keyla Barnmath and Lauren Gibbemeyer effectively neutralized them.

Moim managed 8 points in this match, her lowest tally in six outings. Nicole Fawcett of the US scored 18 points to emerge top scorer of the match and received the MVP award.

Easy added 14 through 13 kills and one block. The American women outshot Kenya 45-24 and outblocked them 9-2.

The African champions will play China in their next match on Monday before tackling continental rivals Algeria on Tuesday.