Volleyball action heating up

Namibian volleyball action is heating up as teams in eight regional leagues battle it out to try and qualify for the Namibia Volleyball Federation Cup in September. 

The top two teams in each region will qualify for the NVF Cup, where Namibia’s winning men and women’s teams will qualify to represent the country at the Zone 6 Club Championships, which will be held in Lesotho in December. 

In the Central Volleyball Association, the Namibia Defence Force A team has a healthy lead at the top of the men’s log, but they can still be caught by the defending NVF Cup champions Khomas Nampol Volleyball Club and Afrocat Volleyball Club. 

The NDF completed their league matches over the weekend since they will be competing in the Military Games coming up next month and had earlier requested to finish their matches earlier. 

They have been in fine form so far, winning 18 and losing only two of their matches and lead the log on 53 points, 12 points ahead of KNVC. 

The latter, however, have four matches in hand and can still pip NDF A to the top spot if they collect maximum points from their remaining matches. 

Earlier they beat NDF A 3-0, but they also suffered narrow 3-2 defeats to both NDF A and Unam Kings, and are currently second, 10 points behind NDF A. 

NDF B, who were due to complete their remaining two league matches against Unam Kings and Nust Eliminators last night, are lying third on 33 points, while Afrocat are fourth on 32 points. Afrocat, however, have only played 12 matches and have eight remaining, and can still catch the front runners if they win their remaining matches.

They kept their hopes of a top-two finish alive when they won both their matches last weekend. Both matches went down to the wire, with Afrocat beating City of Windhoek 3-2 on Friday, and NDF A by the same score the next day. 

In other matches last weekend, NDF A beat DTS 3-0 and Nust Untouchables by the same score; City of Windhoek beat Nust Eliminators 3-0; Nust Untouchables beat Nust Eliminators 3-1; Unam Kings beat Nust Eliminators 3-0; and NDF B beat Kudos 3-2.

In the women’s league of the Central Volleyball Association, the defending NVF Cup champions, Revivals Volleyball Club (RVC), and KNVC have opened up a big lead over the rest of the field and are fighting for the top spot.

Revivals, who have won 10 and only lost one match so far, lead the log on 31 points, while KNVC are second on 27 points with a match in hand, after winning nine and losing one match. 

Kudos follow way back on 18 points in third place, but they have several matches in hand on the leaders and can still catch them. Even Unam Queens, who are fifth on 15 points can still catch the leaders if they collect maximum points from their remaining matches. 

In matches last weekend, RVC beat Kudos 3-0, while DTS beat Nust by the same score.

Meanwhile, the Kavango Volleyball Association already concluded their leagues last weekend with Calvary Eagles and Unam Vipers taking the top two spots in the men’s league, while Beaufort Volleyball Club and Calvary Eagles finished first and second in the women’s league. 

The other regional leagues are still being fiercely contested, with Otjozondjupa Nampol leading both the men and women’s leagues of the Central North Volleyball Association; while the Navy lead both leagues in the Erongo Volleyball Association. 

In the Far Northern Volleyball Association, Nakakepele lead the men’s league 

followed by Namibia Correctional Services, while Six Stars lead the women’s league, followed by Nakakepele. 

Unam Hard Hitters currently lead the men’s league of the Zambezi Volleyball Association, followed by Real Cheeters, while Ball Busters lead the women’s league, followed by Vixens.