
Cairo, Egypt, April 5, 2015 – Egyptian club Ahly trounced Kenya Pipeline 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 28-26) in the final to seize the 2015 Women’s African Club Championship title in front of 2,000 spectators at the 6 October Hall on Sunday.
Ahly reclaimed the Women’s African Club Championship title since their title victories in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2009, to equalise the number of crowns of Pipeline of Kenya with seven titles under their name. The victory is also the fourth for Ahly out of seven finals face-offs against Pipeline.
Ahly’s middle blocker Mariam Metwally led her team to overcome Kenya Pipeline with 23 points, including nine service aces and four block kills. The 17-year-old was eventually nominated as the Most Valuable Player and Best Blocker in the competition. Pipeline’s Monica Biana led the Kenyan scorers with 14 points.
Pipeline improved on their reception in the second set and used the quick attacks of Ruth Jepngetich and Tizah Atuka. Ahly still led in the first technical timeout 8-5. Pipeline setter Wanja again steered the combination plays to takeover in the second technical timeout 16-15. Pipeline’s motivation rewarded them the second set 25-23 after a great struggle in the final moments of the set.
Ahly recovered through their wing spikers to control the third set, with Yunieska spraying attacks on to win the set 25-10. The fourth set was the most exciting set as the Kenyans built a solid wall to take an early lead. Ahly led after the second technical timeout but the score remained close as both teams went point by point until the Egyptian squad close set and match 28-26.
Meanwhile, Carthage of Tunisia topped the other Egyptian club Shams 3-2 (25-17, 31-29, 20-25, 17-25, 16-14) to bag the bronze medal.
Opposite hitter Mariem Brik led Carthage scorers with 16 points followed by middle blocker Abir Othmani and Khloud Jenhani with 13 points each. Sham’s opposite hitter Aya Elshami led all scorers with 19 points followed by outside spiker Farah Ahmed with 17 points.
Carthage started a good service game to lead 8-3 and 16-6 in the technical timeouts in the first set. The Tunisian side’s motivation escalated even when Shams’ big gun Elshami sent sharp spikes to cut down the deficit 22-15. However, Carthage ignored the run and still managed to close the set 25-17.
Shams showed a completely different start in the second set, using their wing spikers Ahmed and Elshami to penetrate the Tunisian block to lead 8-5 and 16-11 in the technical timeouts. Shams lost seven set-points before Carthage took over to end the longest set 31-29.
Shams coach Ehab Hassan replaced setter Doaa Orfy with Mariam Ebrahim to allow the team to lead 8-2. Carthage improved their blocking through Othmani and Marwa Brahoumi to 16-11 in the second technical timeout. After Shams reached 18-11, Carthage slashed the lead to a single point 18-17 before Nada Hossam and Elshami powered Shams to secure the 25-20 win in the third set.
Shams won the fourth set 25-17 to draw with Carthage and extend the match to a tiebreak. Shams and Carthage went head-to-head in the deciding set for an 8-7 score in favour of Shams, but Fatma carried Carthage on the attack in the end game 16-14.
In the awarding ceremony, FIVB Executive Vice-President and CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani accompanied by the representative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Dr Moustafa Azzam and Egyptian Volleyball Federation president Foad Abdel Salam crowned Ahly with the cup and gold medals, Pipeline with the silver and Carthage with the bronze.
Individual Awards
Best Spiker: Ruth Jepngetich (Pipeline)
Best Server: Marwa Brahoumi (Carthage)
Best Blocker: Mariam Metwally (Ahly)
Best Receiver: Nehal Gamal (Shams)
Best Setter: Janet Wanja (Kenya)
Best Libero: Mariam Moustafa (Ahly)
MVP: Mariam Metwally (Ahly)
Final Ranking
1. Ahly (Egypt)
2. Pipeline (Kenya)
3. Carthage (Tunisia)
4. Shams (Egypt)
5. GSP (Algeria)
6. FAP (Cameroon)
7. Vision (Uganda)
8. FAP (Cameroon)
9. ARSU (Seychelles)
10. Injis (Cameroon)
11. KCB (Kenya)
12. Kutlwano (Botswana)
13. Saltigue (Senegal)