This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
Kenya's national women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, are on the verge of defending their African Games title after a dominant performance in the tournament.
On May 20, 2016, the team's star player, Trizah Atuka, was in action during an Olympic qualifying match in Puerto Rico.
Fast forward to the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, where Malkia Strikers convincingly beat Senegal in straight sets (25-11, 25-15, and 25-12) to book their place in the semifinals.
The team, led by coach Paul Bitok, finished top of Group B on an unbeaten record after their second win in the tournament, following a 3-1 victory over Cameroon on Saturday.
Bitok praised the team's performance, saying, 'I'm very happy with the performance of the team so far. However, those wins are in the past now; our next match matters most, therefore, as we head to semifinals, I would like to encourage my team to remain focused and avoid any complacency.'
The team's strong line-up, which included captain Mercy Moim, experienced setter Janet Wanja, and Trizah Atuka, among others, played a crucial role in their victory.
Meanwhile, Kenya's women's 3x3 basketball team missed out on a podium finish after losing 21-10 to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the third-place playoff of the African Games.
The team, which included Daisy Ayodi, Caroline Njeri, and Christine Akinyi, had a promising run in the tournament but ultimately fell short of a bronze medal.
