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Kenya’s Women volleyball team, the Malkia strikers, were unable to repeat yesterday’s heroics as they lost by straight sets to Serbia in their second pool D match at the FIVB Women’s World Championship on Sunday night. The Malkia strikers went down 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-8) in a match played at Hamamatsu, Japan.

 A magnificent performance by Mercy Moim, yesterday, led Kenya to a historic straight sets victory (25-23, 25-22, 25-21) over Kazakhstan in Pool D at the FIVB Women’s World Championship. This was Kenya’s first ever victory at the world stage. Read more details here..https://newsblaze.co.ke/kenyas-malkia-strikers-in-historic-win-over-kazakhstan/

In today’s match Jovana Stevanovic was a thorn in the flesh to the Kenyans as she steared Serbia to the victory with nine points. Brankica Mihajlovic had eight points and Stefana Veljkovic seven for Serbia.

The ever green Mercy Moim led Kenya with seven points in the loss. Kenya played hard, but was unable to muster the same level they displayed in Saturday’s historic victory over Kazakhstan, their first ever at a World Championship. The match did not have many long rallies, with many points over in a flash. Kenya was unable to contend with Serbia’s block.

The first set featured poor serving by both teams. Time and again serves flew long or straight into the net. Serbia took charge and pulled ahead 16-10 at the second Team Time Out on a spike by Milena Rasic and rolled to grab the set 25-16. The higher-ranked Serbs finally got into a rhythm and came together.

Serbia again set the pace in the second set, moving out to an 8-4 lead at the first Team Time Out following a service ace by Tijana Malesevic. Serbia’s wing spikers blasted away at the Kenya defense, which was unable to repel the constant attacks. Serbia boosted their advantage to 16-6 at the second Team Time Out while running off six consecutive points. Kenya was also troubled by unforced errors as Serbia built their lead and ultimately took the set 25-9.

The outcome became academic early in the final set when Serbia rapidly established a 9-1 lead. One point in the set crystallized the match. Serbia’s Veljkovic went up for a spike with her right hand but mistimed her jump. On the way down she hit the ball with her left hand and it landed in a open space in the Kenya defense for a point. Serbia cruised the rest of the way to take the set and the match 25-8.

The Kenyan queens now take on Puerto Rico in their next clash.

Kenya’s next matches

1. Puerto Rico vs Kenya 1/10/2018
2. Kenya vs Brazil 3/10/2018
3. Domican Republica vs Kenya 4/10/2018­

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