Laval, France – In their last friendly match before the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Challenger Cup in Laval, Kenya’s Malkia Strikers encountered an unusual result, settling for a 2-2 draw against Mexico.
The eight-team tournament is set to kick off tomorrow, with Malkia Strikers scheduled to face Colombia in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Kenya initially took the lead with a dominant performance, securing 2-0 sets with scores of 25-20 and 25-14. However, the determined Mexicans fought back, delivering impressive performances in the third and fourth quarters, with 25-11 and 25-14 victories, respectively.
As both teams recognized the friendly nature of the match and with the tournament on the horizon, the need for a fifth set was foregone, resulting in a shared draw.
This friendly against Mexico marked Malkia Strikers’ third preparatory match, having previously achieved victories over Morocco on their home turf.
The team embarked on their journey to France on Tuesday, all set to compete against a challenging lineup of teams, including hosts France, Croatia, Mexico, Sweden, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
As anticipation builds for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Challenger Cup, Malkia Strikers will be seeking to showcase their skills and determination in pursuit of success on the international stage.
