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Beach Volleyball: Kenya staring at exit after Germany loss

Beach Volleyball: Kenya staring at exit after Germany loss
Kenya’s Gaudencia Makokha in action. PHOTO/Kenya team media
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Kenyan duo of Brackcides Agala and Gaudencia Makokha suffered their second loss at the ongoing FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Italy as they went down 2-0 (21-11, 21-13) to the German pair of Karla Borger and Julia Sude in the pair’s Group L encounter played on Sunday, June 12, 2022.

The loss now leaves Kenya needing to win against Poland, represented by the duo of Kinga Wajtasik and Koclolek Katarzyna, on Monday to hopefully secure a spot in the last 32 round as one of the four best third-placed teams in the group stages.

Better showing

The Kenyan pair put up a much better showing offensively on Sunday at the Foro Italico in Rome than they did in their first game on Friday against hosts Italy where they were held to single-digit points on both sets.

Kenya had 10 attacks to Germany’s 27 on Sunday and served twice to Germany’s six. Despite Borger and Sude’s dominance, Agala and Makokha proved superior in the blocks department where they tallied one block to none.

The Germans, who top Group L and have now already secured their place in the next round after two wins, found a more resolute Kenyan team in the opening exchanges and endured a hard-fought first set that had them win 21-11 after tallying 7-4, 14-10 and 17-11.

Perhaps having given their all in that opening set, Agala and Makokha were unable to go toe to toe with their European opponents in the second set and lost 21-13 after trailing 7-1, 14-6, and 17-8.

Memorable

Agala and Makokha will be hoping the stars align for them on Monday against the Poles to make Kenya’s only second appearance at the world stage in beach volleyball much more memorable.

In other results, Africa’s other women representatives in Rome, Morocco, Egypt, and Mozambique are also having a tough time in the world event.

Morocco have already exited the competition after suffering the last of their three losses on Sunday to Japan making them the first casualty from the continent.

Fellow North Africans Egypt have already lost two games and will hope for a better outcome on Monday against Cuba if they are to prolong their tournament. Mozambique have two bites at the cherry remaining as they play later-on on Sunday against Germany after losing their opener to Switzerland.

Kenya has no representation in the Men’s category which has Egypt, Gambia, Mozambique, and Morocco representing the continent.

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