Malkia Strikers head coach Japhet Munala has confirmed the team representing Kenya in the Volleyball Challenger Cup in Manila, Philippines.

Three players were dropped from the squad that left the country on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, for Manilla.

The trio set to miss the trip and consequently, the Olympics in Paris includes Opposite Hitter Mercy Iminza (DCI), Left Attacker Miriam Musa (KCB), and Libero Delphine Misoki (Kenya Prisons).

Late departure for the Philipines means Malkia will miss the planned buildup friendly matches before the tournament.

The Munala-coached side will be keen to use the tournament to gauge and prepare themselves ahead of an acid test in the Olympics where Kenya has been pooled alongside Brazil, Japan, and Poland.

Japan lost to Italy in the just concluded Women Volleyball Nations League, while both Brazil and Poland played in the third-place playoffs with the latter winning.

Malkia Strikers schedule

Led by Captain Triza Atuka and assistant captain Edith Wisa, Malkia will serve off their campaign against Puerto Rico on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in a game slated for 3.00 pm local time in a knockout game which will see the winner proceed to the semifinals.

The semifinals will take place on July 6 where the winners from the initial matches will compete for a spot in the final slated for July 7.

The Women’s competition will see eight teams compete for a place in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League, including 2023 silver medalists Sweden, Argentina, Philipines, Belgium, Puerto Rico Czechia and Vietnam.

France are winners of the 2023 edition of the competition where Sweden picked silver while Colombia secured bronze.

According to the official Volleyball Challenger Cup communique, the new-look Volleyball Nations League will expand to 18 teams per gender and the participants will no longer be divided into core and challenger teams meaning no teams will face relegation at the end of the VNL 2024 season.

The winners of the 2024 Volleyball Challenger Cup and the highest-placed teams in the FIVB Men’s and Women’s Volleyball World Ranking not yet qualified will join the Volleyball Nations League 2025 action.

Malkia Strikers squad

Liberos

Aggripina Kundu, Linzy Jeruto.

Opposite position

Sharon Chepchumba, Loice Simiyu, Pamela Adhiambo.

Outside Hitters

Veronica Adhiambo, Juliana Namutira, Jemimah Siang’u, Leonida Kasaya, Meldina Sande.

Setters

Emmaculate Nekesa, Esther Mutinda

Middle blockers

Captain Triza Atuka, Assistant captain Edith Wisa, Belinda Barasa, Lorine Chebet.