UCU Doves kept their dreams of lifting the 2026 Uganda Volleyball National Club Championship title firmly alive on Saturday.
In a tough semi-final showdown, the university side outfought Nemostars 3-1, sealing their ticket to the men’s championship decider where a formidable Sport-S team awaits.
Saturday’s action brought the intense second day of the championship to a close, successfully determining the finalists in both the men’s and women’s categories after an eventful roster of quarterfinal and semifinal clashes.
Men’s Semi-Finals: Doves weather the storm, Sport-S survives five-set thriller
The hosts booked their final spot through a fiercely contested encounter against Nemostars, winning 27-25, 27-29, 27-25, 25-19.
With every point traded in razor-thin margins across the opening three sets, the Doves ultimately pulled away in the fourth to secure victory in front of an appreciative home crowd.
They will now face a resilient Sport-S side that demonstrated immense grit earlier in the day. Sport-S edged St. Charles 3-2 in a gripping five-set battle, winning 25-8, 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 15-10.
After surrendering a commanding two-set advantage to a roaring St. Charles comeback, Sport-S showed champion’s resolve by recovering in the decisive fifth set to claim their place in the final.
The two sides will now meet for the ultimate prize, with UCU Doves hoping to make home advantage count against a Sport-S team that has proved exceptionally difficult to overcome.
Women’s Division: KCB-Nkumba dethrones champions as Sport-S advances
Drama mirrored the women’s division, where Sport-S will face KCB-Nkumba in the final after both teams successfully navigated their respective semi-final tests.
Sport-S defeated VVC 3-1, winning 25-21, 24-26, 25-21, 25-17.
Meanwhile, KCB-Nkumba booked their ticket with an impressive 3-1 victory over defending champions KCCA. Recovering from a first-set loss, KCB-Nkumba dominated the subsequent frames to win 20-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-18.
The result officially ended KCCA’s hopes of defending their women’s crown. Coupled with their men’s team’s earlier exit, it marks a profoundly disappointing championship for the defending champions across both categories.
A glance back: The road to the finals
The path to Saturday’s semifinals was paved with intense volleyball action from the earlier quarter-finals.
● Women’s Quarterfinals: Sport-S swept Seroma 3-0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-22), while KCCA dispatched K.U. 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-11). VVC survived an exhausting five-set thriller against UCU, winning 3-2 in a match that ended 25-16, 27-29, 26-24, 21-25, 18-16.
● Men’s Quarterfinals: Sport-S swept Prisons 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-21), and St. Charles knocked out KCCA 3-1 after recovering from a first-set loss to win 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21. The bracket also featured K.U. against UCU Doves, alongside Nemostars facing the runner-up of Pool C from the Police and Bukedea fixture.
With both finals now confirmed, featuring Sport-S against KCB-Nkumba in the women’s category and UCU Doves versus Sport-S in the men’s category, all attention turns to the final day at Yes Centre in Nsambya on Sunday.
However, before the tournament reaches its climax, attention will turn to the bronze medal matches, with Ntinda taking on Nemostars in the men’s category, while KCCA VC face VVC in the ladies’ contest.