Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes continued their impressive run at the 2026 CAVB Women’s African Nations Championship, sweeping past DR Congo 3-0 in the Round of 16 to book their place in the quarterfinals.
Uganda won 25-16, 27-25, 25-18, with Joan Tushemereirwe leading the attack with a match-high 15 points.
Team captain Catherine Ainembabazi and middle blocker Jennifer Alungat added 13 points each.
The Lady Volleyball Cranes made a strong start to the contest, racing to an 8-2 lead in the opening set and forcing DR Congo into an early timeout.
The Congolese responded well after the timeout, fighting back to level the scores at 8-8 and turning the set into a contest.
However, Uganda regained control and pulled away to take the opening set 25-16 and move 1-0 ahead in the match.
DR Congo came out much stronger in the second set, taking an early 6-2 lead as Uganda struggled to find their rhythm.
The Lady Volleyball Cranes gradually worked their way back into the contest and eventually leveled the scores at 14-14.
Jennifer Alungat then gave Uganda the lead with an ace serve to make it 15-14, as the two sides went point for point in a tense finish.
Congolese responded well led 24-23 and had the set in their hands but despite the pressure, Uganda held their nerve to take the set 27-25 and establish a commanding 2-0 lead.
The hard-fought second set proved to be the turning point of the contest.
Uganda came back with renewed confidence in the third set, dominating DR Congo for much of the contest to seal a 25-18 victory and complete the straight-sets win.
“It was a tough match, especially in the second set, where we failed to receive some of the serves and made it hard for ourselves,” head coach Protus Soita told Daily Monitor after the game.
Team captain Ainembabazi acknowledged it was a tough challenge for the team in the second set.
“We struggled a bit in the second set, failing to receive well and that caused us a few problems,” the receiver-attacker admitted.
The result sends the Lady Volleyball Cranes into the quarterfinals, where they will be looking to go beyond their performance at the 2023 edition in Cameroon.
Uganda finished eighth on their previous appearance, and the team has already matched that achievement by reaching the quarterfinal stage.
With a place in the last eight secured, the focus now shifts to breaking new ground.
Going beyond the quarterfinals remains the Lady Volleyball Cranes’ target as they continue their campaign at the continental championship.
