Outside hitter Veronica Oluoch emerged as the top scorer with 19 points despite Kenya losing 0-3 sets (22-25,8-25,20-25) to Germany in their first match of the 2025 FIVB Women’s World Championship at the Saphan Hin 4000 Seats Municipal Stadium in Phuket, Thailand on Saturday.
Kenya, who are drawn in Pool “G”, will play Poland on Monday before they complete their preliminary assignments with a clash against Vietnam on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Oluoch, who is one of the few experienced players in the team, said she spiked wide and capitalised on touch outs to earn points for Kenya in the match.
“Germany are good with reception and movement, and I knew if I spike deep, they will definitely receive the balls and that’s why I was spiking wide and the tactic paid off because I was able to bag crucial points. I hope to build on that in the forthcoming matches and I’m happy that I was the overall top scorer of the match,” said Oluoch, who has previously played in Greece with GS Panionios.
Speaking after the match here in Phuket, Oluoch said poor finishing let the team down.
“We actually played well in this match, and especially the first and third sets. We just lost concentration at the tail end of the sets. But all in all, I’m proud of how the entire team played. We have tomorrow (Sunday) to rectify the mistakes, and try to improve on our shortcomings, especially reception and back-court defence,” added Oluoch.
Rookie Terry Tata, who plays for the KCB and recently helped the Kenya Under-20 women’s team to win the African Volleyball Championship title in Cameroon, contributed nine points for Kenya. Alsmeier Lina and Emilia Weske top-scored for Germany with 13 points each.
Kenya coach Geoffrey Omondi conceded that poor finishing cost them the match, saying the players who are inexperienced lost ground at the crucial stage of the set.
“The players did everything we told them to do, and the loss squarely lies on the technical bench, but we carry a lot of positives from the match, and hopefully, we will bounce back, “said Omondi.
Germany’s coach Giulio Bregoli lauded Kenya for giving her team a run for their money in the first and third sets.
“I loved how Kenya played. They were physical and stretched us at some point but I am glad we eventual won the match," Bregoli observed.
Kenya indeed pushed Germany to the wall in the first and third sets only, but cracked in the key moments to lose 22-25 and 20-25 respectively.
Kenya, however, gave little resistance in the second set. Everything fell apart for the team, and Kenya lost 8-25. At the end of the pool matches, the top two teams will proceed to the second round.
