By sportsnewsarena correspondent
Jul 15, 2016
Defending boys volleyball champion Hospital Hill defeated Katangi High school 3-0 in the semi-final of the Metropolitan Region Secondary Games played at Nyayo Stadium on Friday.
Hospital Hill won the fist set 25-11 despite soaking in some early pressure from their opponents. Any chances of an upset were dashed when they turned on the style in the second set to take it 25-18.
Tactical discipline and inexperience played a part in the their loss as their defence was constantly breached.
A brave Katangi side matched Hospitall Hill play for play in the opening minutes but they could not cope with the all out attack nature of their deadly opponents as Hospital Hill surged to a 21-13 lead. Hospital Hill continued to dominate and sealed the match with a 25-16 third set win.
The champions had earlier secured top spot in their group with a 3-0 straights victory over Kangundo High School. With the teams locked at two wins a piece, the winner was to decide which team tops the group.
In this match, Kangundo started brightly and led 8-5 after 10 minutes. They however made some unforced errors from the defensive pressure that saw them trail 19-22 and later 20-24.
Hospital Hill captain Emmanuel Kirwa hit a ferocious spike to ensure his team took the first set 25-20.
In the second set, Hospital Hill dominated and won 25-14 for a 2-0 lead and looked to be cruising at that point. However, Kangundo came back strongly and pushed their fancied opponents in the decisive set with the teams locked in at 20-a piece and 23-a piece respectively.
Hospital Hill's Erick Kimutai hit a spike to tie the game at 23 points a piece and set up a nervy final moments. His team held on for the win by taking the final set 25-23.
Mwangi optimistic of retaining title
After the match Hospital Hill coach Francis Mwangi was optimistic of retaining the title. "The match was good. Our opponents were formidable going into the match. We did not play our best but we are happy with the win. Our aim was to reach the final and we are going to prepare well for it." Mwangi said.
In the second semi-final Utithi beat Kangundo High 3-0 of 28-26, 25-23, 25-19.
In the girl's category, defending champions Kwanthanze High School stormed into the final with a resounding 3-0 straight set victory over Nduluni High.
The gulf in class was seen from the get go when Kwanthanze took the opening set 25-6 before closing the game out 25-9 and 25-4 respectively in the next two sets.
In the other semi-final Soweto Academy dispatched Nembu Girls 25-6, 25-9 and 25-4 in a relatively one sided encounter.
Kwanthanze had earlier made light work of Utithi School with a comfortable 25-4, 25-5, 25-9 straight sets victory that enabled them reach the semi final. The team dispatched Nembu Girls( 25-12, 25-17, 25-13) in the group stages.
The results pit perennial rivals Soweto and Kwanthanze in what is a repeat of last year's final. Hospital Hill will square off with Utithi in the boys final.
Results Day 2
Nduluni 3 Kimuka 0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-17) Soweto 3 Matuu Memorial 0 (25-6, 25-17, 25-1) Kwathanze 3 Nembu 0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-13) Katangi 3 Moi Forces Academy 1 (15-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-21)
By Ronnie Evans
