09 May 2016

Mafolofolo women team fought from one set down to secure an emphatic 3-1 victory over BDF VI in the opening weekend of the 2016 Mascom Volleyball League season at Ditshupo Hall on May 7.

BDF VI gave debuts to three new signings, Sesha Matswiri, Tebo Mokokwe and Ashley Harujezu and the trio helped the army side dominate the early stages of the match and win the first set 25-23.

However, Mafolofolo recovered in the second set with attacker Gaoleseletse Gasekgonwe and Chada Majaha getting their act together. Coach Kabo Ntshinogang brought in new signing from Kalavango Gabaresepe Mashaole and stalwart defender Pricilla Ntlhaga and they helped to stabilize Mafolofolo. Mafolofolo won the entertaining second set 25-17 with Kelebogile Mahupela delivering a powerful spike which clinched the set.

Lee Tshipana’s BDF VI slumped horribly in the third and fourth sets giving the experienced Mafolofolo ladies an easy victory. They won the third set 25-8 to establish a 2-1 lead, and settled the match with a 25-15 third set win.

Ntshinogang declared afterwards that his team is gunning for the league this season. Kutlwano are the defending champions having dominated the ladies league for the past few seasons. The Big House won the league with a margin of four points over Mafolofolo last year.

“The objective is to win the league this year. We have a good team this time around and I hope that we would push to win the league,” Ntshinogang said.

He said his team started the match badly because they did not put in a lot of effort. “We were very slow at the beginning of the match. But we put in more effort in the second set and managed to play better. This is why we dominated the other sets from the onset and held our lead for the rest of those sets. It was our first competitive match this year and I think it went well even though we lost a set,” Ntshinogang said.

He said Mafolofolo will have to improve their blocking and servicing because they are lacking in those two areas. He said he was impressed with his team’s attacking in the match.  

Dynamites defeated Mag Stimela 3-0 in another ladies match. In the men’s matches, defending champions Kutlwano defeated Spiking Stars 3-1, while Kalavango beat Mafolofolo 3-1.  Mag Stimela thrashed Desert Kings 3-0 while Police beat BDF VI 3-1. ENDS