By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –
CHAMPIONS Green Eagles and Kamwala Magic lead the way in posting victories after the Midlands Volleyball Association (MIVA) Week Two league games at the weekend.
Eagles are top of the standings in the men’s game only on point’s ratio to a resurgent University of Zambia (UNZA) who are in second but also on six points after the weekend games that saw both record impressive victories at Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC).
UNZA took down Napsa 3-1 sounding out their intention to be taken serious as contenders this season. The student started brightly, winning the first set 25-22 and the second 25-19 to assert themselves on the proceedings.
Napsa fought back to win the third set in a gutsy show 25-16 and it looked like the comeback was on the cards but UNZA closed the game taking the fourth set 25-20 to make sure they stay on the Eagles heels.
It was the same script in the game between Eagles and City of Lusaka as the champions raced to a 2-0 lead in the first two sets 25-22, 25-23 but dropped the third 19-25 as their levels of concentration dropped before they won 25-16.
Third placed Nkwazi played a five set thriller with Green Buffaloes but fell short at the end 3-2. The Police outfit got to a flying start winning the first set 25-23 but Buffaloes came back stomping to a 25-21 win in set two.
Buffaloes again grabbed the initiative to take a 2-1 lead after taking the third set 25-18 but Nkwazi fought back to level it 2-2 winning the fourth in a close finish 25-23.
However, Buffaloes held their nerve to win the fifth 15-7 and 3-2 on the day but are in fourth position above City in fifth and bottom placed Napsa.
In the ladies section, Magic overcame a spirited UNZA in straight sets to remain top 25-22, 25-20, 25-14 with six points while second placed Nkwazi blew away Spiking Stars in three games 25-11, 25-10, 25-20 and have five points.
That is one better than Super Select in third who beat Buffaloes in straight sets 25-17, 25-21, 25-11 to sum up a bad weekend for the Army teams.