Kenya team played as a unit against Algeria to claim their first victory
San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 21, 2016 – Veteran Bracksides Khadambi recorded 23 points, including 5 aces and four blocks, to lead Kenya in the 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-14, 25-16) victory over Algeria at the Women’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament on Saturday.
It was the first victory for Kenya in the four-team competition after losing to Puerto Rico on Friday. The second loss in as many days eliminated Algeria from the contention for the last ticket available to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Kenya dominated 15-4 in blocks and held a slight margin in aces 11-9. The winners made 16 unforced errors to 24 by the defeated side.
Triza Atuka contributed 15 points to the victory while Mercy Moim and Violet Makuto each added 13 points.
Yasmine Abderrahim had a match-high 30 points for Algeria but her heroic performance was not enough to open the gates of the victory to her side.
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Kenya closes its participation playing hosts Puerto Rico on Sunday afternoon while Algeria meets Colombia.
Khadambi and Murambi contributed heavily to give Kenya the first set 25-14 with the veteran Khadambi registering 6 points, including two aces, and Murambi landing four spikes.
It was a close affair in the second set won by Algeria 25-23 after leading at both pauses just by one point. The Algerian side was carried by the big cross-court spikes of Abderrahim who had 20 points at that stage of the match.
The defense at the net in the Kenyan side was the deciding factor in the third set won by Kenya with a comfortable margin. Moim and Atuka closed the actions 25-14 with two big blocks.
The Kenyans kept their strong game at the net and repeated their victory of the previous set winning 25-16.