National volleyball playoffs tip off this Saturday at Old Kampala Arena

The race for the National Volleyball League title begins this Saturday at the Old Kampala Arena, as the top teams in the country face off in the playoffs following the conclusion of a competitive regular season last week.

The journey to the postseason was fiercely contested. In the men's Serie A division, Nemo VC finished atop the standings with an impressive 48 points, securing 16 wins in their 18 matches. They were closely pursued by Sport-S, who finished second with 46 points.

Sport-S attacker John Bosco Opila expressed his team's readiness for the challenge ahead.

"We are ready for the playoffs because we have worked hard all season, stayed focused, improved as a team, and now we want to fight for the title," he said.

KCCA and Elyon completed the top four, both finishing with 36 points to secure third and fourth place, respectively. These results set up compelling semifinal matchups: table-toppers Nemo will battle Elyon, while Sport-S will face KCCA.

On the women's side, KCB-Nkumba were the standout performers, concluding the regular season with a flawless record of 18 wins from 18 matches. They will enter the playoffs as overwhelming favorites. Behind them, KCCA secured second place, followed by Sport-S in third and VVC in fourth. The semifinals will see KCB-Nkumba take on VVC, while KCCA and Sport-S renew their rivalry.

KCB-Nkumba coach Tonny Lakony attributed his team's success to their discipline and collective effort. "We stayed disciplined, respected every opponent, and worked as a team throughout the season. Finishing unbeaten shows our consistency, but now we must stay focused for the playoffs," Lakony stated. Acknowledging their upcoming opponents, he added, "We respect VVC because they are strong and organised, but we believe in our system and we are ready to compete strongly."

Playoff format and schedule

The playoffs will be contested over several days. The first games of the semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, with Game Two taking place on Sunday. Should the series be tied, decisive third games will be played next week on Wednesday and Thursday.

The bronze medal match and the first game of the finals are both set for March 29. The final series will then continue on April 11, with a deciding game, if necessary, slated for April 12.

Regular season form sets the stage

A look back at the regular season provides a clear picture of what to expect. KCB-Nkumba's dominance was absolute, underscored by a recent 3-0 victory over VVC, cementing their status as strong favorites. However, VVC, who finished fourth with 39 points, have shown flashes of competitiveness throughout the season and cannot be underestimated.

The women's semifinal between KCCA and Sport-S promises to be a tight affair. KCCA finished second with 42 points, narrowly ahead of Sport-S on 41, highlighting how evenly matched they are. Both teams secured significant wins during the season, making this a series that could easily go the distance.

In the men's category, the clash between Nemo and Elyon is expected to be fiercely competitive. While Nemo topped the table with a superior set ratio, Elyon gained a reputation for pushing opponents to five sets. Their matches are anticipated to be physical and closely fought.

The other men's semifinal between Sport-S and KCCA is equally intriguing. Sport-S demonstrated their ability to handle pressure by defeating Nemo in a grueling five-set match recently. KCCA, meanwhile, has been a model of consistency and will look to leverage their experience to challenge Sport-S.

Promotion and relegation decided

In the Serie B playoffs, which also begin on Saturday but at the Nsambya venue, the stakes are high. Men's teams like St Charles, Prison, UPDF, and Nkumba, along with women's sides Elyon, Nkumba, and Kinaawa, will battle for promotion. BUKEDEA Comprehensive VC has already secured direct promotion to Serie A next season after finishing top of their group.

At the other end of the table, relegation battles have been concluded. In Serie A, Kampala University (KU) men and KAVC women finished at the bottom and will be relegated to Serie B. In Serie B, Gulu City men and Aztecs women ended their campaigns in last place and will drop down to Serie C.

National Volleyball League playoffs  

Saturday 21st (Old Kampala Arena)

Women
KCB-Nkumba v VVC 10am
Sport-S v KCCA 4pm

Men
Nemo v Elyon 1pm
Sport-S v KCCA 7pm

Sunday 22nd March

Women
VVC v KCB-Nkumba 10am
KCCA v Sport-S 4pm

Men
Elyon v Nemo 1pm
KCCA v Sport-S 7pm

Serie B

Saturday 21st (Nsambya)

Women
Nkumba v Kinaawa 12pm
Prison v UPDF 5pm

Men
St Charles v Nkumba 3pm

Sunday 22nd March

Women
Elyon v Bugema 10am
Kinaawa v Nkumba 1pm
Bugema v Elyon 5pm

Men
UPDF v Prison 1pm
Nkumba v St Charles 3pm