KSSSA: Kwanthanze storms volleyball finals

The 2015 East Africa girls volleyball champions Kwanthanze on Friday booked a spot in the in the finals of ongoing Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) ball games in Nyeri, against Rift Valley champions Cheptil.

The Eastern region champions eased past last year’s national and East Africa silver medalists Soweto Academy of Nairobi 3-0 in a mouth-watering semi final, winning in sets of 25-16, 25-10 and 28-26.

Cheptil, the recently crowned the Rift kings booked sailed through after thrashing Lugulu of Western 3-0 in sets of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-17.

In a post match interview with Citizen Digital, Kwanthanze captain Esther Mutinda, a setter in the team, expressed her confidence of beating their opponents in the eagerly awaited finals on Saturday.

“If we have won against Soweto in the semis I think the final is as well as done. The threat they posed in their group stages made us appear the underdogs,” she said.

Kwanthanze, who were missing in the action during last year’s nationals, are hoping to maintain their current form and secure a ticket to the East Africa games slated for Gulu in Uganda later this year.

Speaking after the tie against Lugulu, Cheptil Girls captain Mercy Rono has praised the coach effort together with her team mates for the performance.

“We are very happy for the win against Lugulu and now to accomplish our mission of representing Kenya in Uganda we have to beat Kwanthanze who are very organized this year. We are optimistic we will carry the day,” she charged.

In boys category, 2016 East Africa champions Malava Boys will face Sengera in the finals after beating Cheptil Boys 3-0 in sets of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-18.

Sengera thrashed newcomers Kangundo Boys of Eastern Region 3-1 in sets of 25-19, 25-18 and 25-15 with the latter winning one set 30-28.

The finals will be held on Saturday at the Nyeri Complex in Nyeri County.