Hospital Hill out to reclaim volleyball title

Former national boys’ volleyball champions Hospital Hill will be out to reclaim the title during next week’s Airtel Rising Stars Secondary Schools National Term Two ‘B’ games in Kisumu.

Hospital Hill, who won their maiden national title in 2013 in Embu, lost 3-0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-18) to Nzoia Region’s Malava Boys in last year’s final at Machakos School.

Malava Boys also stopped the Nairobi and Metropolitan champions at the semi-final stage during the 2014 nationals in Kakamega on their way to lifting the title.

The Francis Mwangi-coached Hospital Hill successfully retained their Metropolitan region title after a routine 3-0 ((25-18, 25-14, 25-13) win over Utithi Boys two weeks ago.

Mwangi said his team has learnt from last year’s mistakes and believes he has a better squad which can claim a second national title.

“Our blocks and back court were our undoing last year but we have worked on the two areas and the team looks in good shape to go all the way and be crowned champions again,” the coach told Saturday Nation Sport.

The team beefed up its preparations for the nationals with build-up matches against University of Nairobi and Nairobi County Council select teams and will wind up with a friendly match against Garissa Technical on Saturday.

“We are in a tough pool in Kisumu but we are hungry to reclaim the title. This is one of my best squads in years and I believe they will get their hands on the title and repeat the heroics at the East African Games,” he added.

Hospital Hill are in the group of death which has defending champions Malava Boys, three-time national champions Cheptil High (Mau) and a yet to be identified team from Northern Region.

Hospital Hill beat Cheptil in their preliminary stage last year but both schools advanced to the semi-finals with the latter finishing third.

“It will be a tough pool and fans can expect cracking matches, only two teams will advance from the pools and I am sure one of those teams will be mine,” Mwangi added.

The experienced tactician will rely on skipper Emmanuel Kirwa, setters Kevin Kori and Nick Koech, Erick Ngeno, Kevin Losiria as well as Ken Limo to lead the team to glory.

The fact that only the top three finishers will represent the country at the East African Games in Eldoret next month, simply adds more pressure to the three giants.

In Pool A, Lake Region’s Chianda will tackle Waa Boys from Coast Region, Kanyubora (Highlands) and Aberdare Region’s Tetu.