This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
On September 14, 2019, Kenya's national women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, faced off against the USA in the opening match of the 2019 FIVB World Cup in Hamamatsu, Japan.
The match ended in a straight sets loss for the Kenyan team, with scores of 14-25, 20-25, and 14-25.
Despite the loss, the team showed resilience and determination, giving the Americans a run for their money.
Coach Paul Bitok's decision to field youngsters Sharon Chepchumba and Lorine Chebet in all three sets was a highlight of the match.
Chepchumba impressed with 11 points, emerging as Kenya's top scorer, while Chebet also made a good account of herself in her World Cup debut.
Bitok expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the young players, stating that he gave them a chance to prepare them for future plans.
He also acknowledged that the team had developed fear against the USA, which led to them losing many points at the beginning of the match.
However, the team improved in reception and composition in the second set, which Bitok identified as an area they were looking to improve in the tournament.
