APR VC demonstrated resilience in a captivating Rwanda Volleyball League match against Police VC, rallying from behind on two occasions to clinch a thrilling victory in a five-set battle.
On a Sunday afternoon at Notre Dame des Anges, volleyball enthusiasts savored the excitement of the first security derby of the 2024 Rwanda National Volleyball League season. The match brimmed with intense rallies and dynamic momentum swings, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats throughout.
In the first set, the score remained tight until reaching ten points, after which Police managed to secure five successive points, leading to APR’s Sam Mulingye calling a timeout.
APR’s strategic timeout proved effective, with Prince Kanamugire delivering consecutive blocks to narrow the deficit to two points, prompting Fred Musoni to call a timeout at 16-14.
Following the timeout, Police maintained a two-point lead until reaching 22 points and ultimately clinched the set with a score of 25-23.
Similar to the first set, the second set saw a closely contested battle until reaching 10 points, before APR gained a four-point advantage (14-10) thanks to Theoneste Rwahama’s blocks. Despite Fred Musoni’s attempt to halt APR’s momentum with a timeout, his strategies proved ineffective as APR continued to dominate, scoring eight consecutive points.
In a bid to adjust tactics, Fred Musoni’s team called for another timeout, managing to narrow the gap to two points at set point. However, Venuste Gatsinzi’s decisive kill leveled the set score at 1, with a score of 25-22.
In the third set, Fred Musoni made a strategic change by bringing in Placide Sibomana, also known as “Madison,” to partner with Emmy Twagirayezu, replacing Frank Shyaka in the middle.
Madison’s presence on the court immediately made an impact as he assisted Police in securing an early 5-0 lead. Their dominance continued as they held APR at 17 points in this set, 25-17.
In the fourth set, APR fought back by outscoring Police, ultimately achieving a 25-19 victory and necessitating a deciding set.
In the deciding set, Samuel Niyonshima’s determination shone through as he led APR to a four-point lead (8-4), which they capitalized on to secure the set 15-9, and claim victory.
The victory propelled APR back into the top 4, a position that ensures a playoff berth. The army team currently sits in third place, ahead of Police Volleyball Club with both teams tied at 20 points, However, APR’s superior number of wins gives them the edge in the standings.
REG and Kepler currently occupy the first and second places, respectively.
The Rwanda Volleyball League games will resume on Friday, March 29, marking the beginning of the second leg.
