By Silvia Nakituuka
The second round of the National Volleyball League (NVL) opened with high energy on January 31 and February 1 at the Sport-S Grounds in Nsambya. Teams including KCCA, KAVC, Sport-S, and UCU Doves returned to action as they faced their first opponents of the round.
In the men’s category on Saturday, KAVC edged Elyon VC 3–2 in a five-set battle. Sport-S beat Tigers VC 3–1, while KCCA survived a tight contest to defeat Sky VC 3–2.
The most anticipated match of the day was Nemostars against UCU Doves. The Doves entered the second round in fifth place after a strong finish to the first round, but Nemostars halted their momentum with a 3–0 win.
Nemostars captain George Aporu said the team came in composed and hungry for a win after going a month without competitive action.
“Once we won the first set, it was clear the Doves had lost momentum. We kept them under pressure. We served harder, and they could not execute their game plan,” Aporu said.
UCU pushed Nemostars to extra points in the first set, losing 26–24, but struggled to keep up in the next two sets, falling 25–16 and 25–15. It was a tough start to the second round for the Doves, who will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture.
Jimmy Francis Opio from the Doves’ welfare team attributed part of the struggle to adjustments within the squad.
“Our current team includes new young players who are still trying to fit into the team culture, so bonding is still a challenge,” he said.
He also noted the late kickoff.
“The game was supposed to start at 7 pm, but we began at 10 pm and ended at 11:42 pm. That affected us against a more mature opponent,” Opio added.
In the women’s games, Nemostars defeated KU 3–0, while the UCU Lady Doves continued their strong form with a clean 3–0 win over KAVC. Sport-S beat Seroma 3–0, and KCB Nkumba edged KCCA 3–2.
On Sunday, Elyon VC bounced back with a 3–1 win over KU Eagles, Sport-S swept Sky VC 3–0, and KCCA overpowered Tigers VC 3–0. The men’s match between KAVC and UCU Doves was postponed.
Opio explained the delay.
“The organisers were using one court for both women’s and men’s matches for live broadcast. The KCB Nkumba versus KCCA match started late and took longer than expected.”
In the women’s category, the UCU Lady Doves extended their winning run with a 3–1 victory over KU. KCCA beat Nemostars 3–1, KCB Nkumba won 3–1 against KAVC, and VVC’s 3–0 win over Seroma is pending official confirmation.
UCU Lady Doves head coach Juma Osunge said the team achieved its weekend target.
“The performance was spot on. It helped the players settle their anxiety and build confidence. We set out to get six points, and we achieved it. We aim for the same this weekend against Seroma and Sport-S,” Osunge said.
Osunge added that the men’s team remains focused.
“The men started with a difficult result against the table leaders Nemo, but we will bounce back in the next fixtures. Our aim is to qualify for the playoffs.”
