Teams out to fight for finals slots in National Volleyball League

By the close of business on Sunday, teams to play in the National Volleyball League finals will have been known.

Only the series involving Sport-S Ladies and OBB Queens were concluded last weekend, with the former closing that in two straight games to avoid a decider.

Malic Damulira’s charges will now watch with interest the game between Ndejje Elites and KCCA, the decider of which team will join the regular season top seed in the finals.

KCCA had their backs against the wall after losing Game One but used the Easter break to correct their mistakes and bounce back in Game Two.

Zainah Kagoya played a huge role in limiting the damage done by Ndejje’s Catherine Ainembabazi with an excellent net defence display. At the same time, Margaret Namyalo gave the team cover in the backcourt.

For Ndejje, there was just a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Ainembabazi, and when KCCA stopped her, setter Phionah Naziite did not have sufficient alternatives on offence.

The two sides faced off in last year’s semi-final, and Ndejje had the last laugh after going a game down, and KCCA will be looking to get over the line and into the finals.

Momentum with KAVC, OBB

KAVC and OBB levelled their series against UCU Doves and Sport-S, respectively.

KAVC exhibited composure against a predominantly young UCU side to win 3-2 and stay alive in the series.

Allan Ejiet continues to be the team’s biggest threat on offence, while Geoffrey Onapa started slow but grew into Game Two to remind everyone of the player he was in the regular season.

It promises to be a classic encounter on Sunday, with a finals slot on the line.

Gideon Angiro and Nixon Tumusiime will have to be on top of their game to find gaps in the KAVC block for the Doves to return to the finals.

Meanwhile, defending champions OBB will have to maintain their momentum from Game Two to stop the regular season’s top seed.

Having struggled for consistency throughout the regular season, the Iganga-based side were on the verge of elimination after trailing 12-09 in last weekend’s decisive set.

But a late charge and unforced errors on the side of Sport-S saw the champions take a hard-fought 19-17 triumph in the fifth set to win 3-2 and forcer a decider.

The experience of libero Sharif Nabanji and Ivan Ongom came to the fore down the stretch, and OBB will need that and more to get past a solid Sport-S side.

National Volleyball League Playoffs

Sunday fixture

Women

KCCA vs. Ndejje -4pm

Men

Sport-S vs. OBB -12pm

KAVC vs. UCU Doves -6pm