VNL defending champions poised to win season undefeated again
Volleyball
With the MTC Volleyball National League (VNL) season now headed into its final half, the defending champions do not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.After the fourth round concluded at the Windhoek Showgrounds in the capital, they still dominate the log standings unbeaten, a feat that saw them lift both the men’s and women’s trophies last season.
Reigning supreme in the women’s section are Revivals, who returned to the top spot in the third round. They kept their hands firm on the lead in the fourth round after winning all their matches with maximum points, securing a five-point cushion on 23 points.
Their flawless run includes a 3-1 win over Six Stars, a 3-1 victory against the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) Phoenixes and a 3-0 sweep of Nampol.
‘We know everyone is coming for us’
Reflecting on the achievement, captain Nokokure Kambatuku was all smiles, describing it as an amazing feeling and a huge confidence boost for the team.
“The pressure is real, as we know everyone is coming for us, but we are using it to fuel our performances. Temporarily losing the top spot earlier in the season was a crucial wake-up call.
“It happened after our 3-2 win over Ball Busters, where we shared points and allowed the University of Namibia (Unam) Queens to move ahead by one point. Our coach, Kudakwashe Mutasa, then came up with a solid game plan that saw us beat Queens 3-0 in the opening match,” she said.
Despite the commanding lead, Kambatuku remained humble and acknowledged the league’s unpredictability.
“Our focus is to finish strong and improve every match. We are also using the league as preparation for the Zone 6 Club Championship in Botswana from 9 to 22 December,” she added.
Men’s section leaders
The men’s section is led by Namibian Correctional Service, who have never held any position but first since last year. They currently top the log with 24 points.
Their fourth-round victims were Mighty Gunners, whom they beat 3-1 and the NDF Raptors, who suffered a 3-0 defeat in their replayed match. The original fixture had been postponed due to lighting difficulties, with the Raptors having secured one set before the interruption.
Captain Ngolo Fillipus could not hide his pleasure at having led the team to a similar achievement to last season.
“We have a standard that we have set for ourselves and the dream we had since day one. We approach all our games with the determination and spirit of the first game of the league.
“We are going to approach the upcoming games with similar seriousness, as we are well aware the competition is getting tougher with every round. Every team wants to win. We’re looking forward to keeping the lead and winning this season undefeated again,” he assured.
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