For a side that had made winning a habit for the last two years, Vision Volleyball Camp (VVC) started 2016 on a wrong note by losing the first championship of the year.
VVC lost the Ndejje Open to hosts Ndejje Elites, but the latter had nothing to do with their failure to defend the crown they won last year.
The Namboole based side was eliminated at the semifinal stage by a Sport-S side that is ready to challenge the big girls for honours this year.
At the fourth edition of the Joan Cox Memorial Volleyball Championship hosted by Gayaza High School over the weekend, VVC had a lot to play for, but their pride ranked higher than anything else.
Qualifying out of a group that had Sport-S and Ndejje Elites was a big motivation going into the knock stages where they breathed through KCCA in straight sets (25-14, 25-19, 25-12).
That pitted VVC against the same Sport-S side that defeated them 3-2 in the preliminary round, the latter had seen off Espoir 3-1 ( 25-16, 18-25, 25-20, 25-16) in the other semifinal.
In the final, VVC took early control of the first two sets. Led by eventual tournament MVP, Zaina Kagoya and skipper Joan Nabbuto, they led 25-22, 25-21.
Through Peace Busingye and Astreede Agaaba, Sport-S stepped up their play especially in reception and attack, they levelled the game 26-24, 25-16.
In the tiebreaker, VVC woke up and led 8-2 at the change of sides, Sport-S crawled back and closed the gap 11-13, they almost caught up but VVC held their nerves to win 15-12.
In the U21 secondary schools’ category, Trust High School defeated Kinawa Mugogo 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 27-25), to lift their third title in four years.
St Bridget Insingiro were 2-0 (25-19, 25-20) winners over Iganga S S in the bronze medal match, in the U16 finals, Kinawa Mugongo beat Namugongo Vocational 2-0 (25-18 (25, 20).
Summarised results Sport-S bounced
Clubs Women
Finals: VVC 3-2 Sport-S (25-22, 25-21, 24-26, 16-25, 15-12)
3rd Playoff KCCA 3-1 Espoir (25-16, 18-25, 25-20, 25-16)
Semis Clubs:
Sport-S 3-0 Espoir VC (25-14, 25-18, 25-20)
VVC 3-0 KCCA B (25-14, 25-19, 25-12)
Schools Under 21:
Finals: Trust High School 3-0 Kinawa Mugogo (25-18, 26-24, 27-25)
3rd Playoff: St Bridget Insingiro 2-0 Iganga S S (25-19, 25-20)
Schools Under 16:
Finals: Kinawa Mugongo 2-0 Namugongo Vocational (25-18, 25-20)
