Sport-S are the new masters of Ugandan club volleyball. They won both the men's and the women's titles at the National Club Volleyball Championship on Sunday, completing a double at the YES Centre in Nsambya.
The men were ruthless in the final, beating hosts UCU Doves 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-22). The women had to come from a set down against KCB-Nkumba before winning 3-1.
It was a weekend to forget for KCCA. The defending champions lost both of their crowns, the men in the quarter-finals and the women in the semi-finals.
Sport-S men's team pose for a group photo before their final against UCU Doves at the YES Centre in Nsambya on Sunday.
Men: one scare, then a straight-sets final
Sport-S showed their strength from the group stage, where they beat Bukedea 3-0. Prisons were dispatched by the same score in the quarter-finals.
The semi-final against St. Charles was the closest Sport-S came to losing. They raced into a two-set lead, 25-8 and 25-19, before St. Charles hit back to take the third and fourth sets 25-23 and 25-23. Sport-S held their nerve in the tie-break and won it 15-10.
UCU Doves reached the final through a tight semi-final of their own, beating Nemostars 3-1 (27-25, 27-29, 27-25, 25-19). Three of those four sets went beyond 25 points. In the final, the Doves had no answer.
Women: slow start, strong finish
The women's final began badly for Sport-S. KCB-Nkumba took the opening set 25-22, but Sport-S responded by winning the second 25-15.
The third set was the turning point. Sport-S edged it 26-24 and then closed out the fourth to lift the trophy.
Sport-S players in a huddle during the championship.
Their road to the title was just as convincing. Sport-S opened with a 3-0 win over Cobap, beat Seroma 3-0 in the quarter-finals and saw off VVC 3-1 in the semi-finals.
The championship in numbers
- 36 teams took part, 20 in the men's competition and 16 in the women's.
- The championship opened at Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono on Friday, where the first two days were played.
- The finals moved to the YES Centre in Nsambya on Sunday.
- Sport-S won both titles. KCCA, the defending men's and women's champions, won neither.
How the defending champions fell, and the five-set thrillers of the weekend: KCCA lose both volleyball crowns in one weekend.
Earlier in the championship: KCCA women start volleyball title defence with UPDF win at UCU.
