By Slivia Nakituuka
Uganda Christian University (UCU) Doves suffered their second defeat of the 2026/27 National Volleyball League (NVL) season after losing 3-1 to Sport-S Volleyball Club at the MTN Arena in Lugogo on November 6, 2026.
The Doves struggled in the opening set, which began as a closely contested affair before Sport-S took control and secured a 25-12 victory.
UCU Doves head coach Deogracious Anguria attributed the poor start to ineffective serving, poor execution and missed opportunities from free balls.
However, the Doves responded in the second set, improving their defence and attacking play. A few substitutions also helped the Mukono-based side regain momentum as they claimed the set 25-21 to level the contest at 1-1.
With both teams having won a set, the third became closely contested as each side sought to take the lead.
“It was a good experience, but not the result we expected,” Anguria said.
The coach acknowledged that his players failed to deliver at crucial moments but praised their improvement compared to their season opener against Bukedea Comprehensive School (BCS).
He noted that the team showed greater determination and a stronger desire to win despite the result.
Sport-S regained control in the third set, overcoming UCU’s resistance to win 25-20 and take a 2-1 lead.
Doves captain Mark Omara attributed the team’s struggles to limited cohesion and the challenge of balancing academic commitments with training.
“Our biggest disadvantage is team bonding and chemistry during games. At the moment, our skill levels are lacking due to the poor balance between academics and training, so we are falling short,” Omara said.
In the fourth set, UCU started strongly and appeared to have control of the contest. However, Sport-S relied on their composure and experience to overturn the momentum and claim the set 25-22, sealing a 3-1 victory.
Despite the defeat, Omara believes the team will learn from its mistakes and improve in the coming fixtures.
“It was a tough but great game to learn from. Losses bring lessons and give us an opportunity to correct our mistakes and perform better in the next games,” he said.
The result leaves the Doves searching for their first victory of the season after losing their opening two matches.
