Green Buffaloes volleyball team last Sunday claimed the official runners-up position in the Midlands Volleyball Association league after thrashing High Flying Nkwazi 3-1 in week 15 of the league.

Buffaloes’ floating long ball hitter Aaron Sinkala made most points for the army side in the first set of the game while their multi-tasking vice skipper Richard Phiri alternated between setting and blocking thunderous spikes from the towering Nkwazi players. The set ended 25-20.

The second set was not good for Buffaloes as the police side mounted numerous above the net blocks while charging the army side handsome fines paid in points. Nkwazi managed simple but clever points that saw them win the second set by exactly two points as the rule demands. The set ended 27-25.

The third set was an easy one for the combatants as they swept through the police court side effortlessly this time relying less on Phiri and Sinkala. Gabriel Mubanga stole the show by managing to make points out of the aces from team setter Joseph Bwalya. Mubanga was outstanding with power spikes that saw the game finished 25-17.

“It was an easy one for us although we had lost concentration in the second set. A little team talk before the second set got us back on our A-game and got won the game. I wish this is how we have been playing the other games that we lost to UNZA and City of Lusaka,” said Buffaloes vice skipper, Richard Phiri.

All clubs in the league have two games in hand before the trophy can be handed to the champions Green Eagles who have so far only lost two games. Even if the ZNS side lost in the two remaining fixtures, no club can level up with it in points. The same applies for Buffaloes on second position.

Nkwazi will finish third while it is not clear on fourth position as UNZA and City of Lusaka were sharing the same 21 points with each having two games in hand.