CAVB Women’s African Volleyball Club Championship |24 May 2023

Arsu beat Letto Volleyball Academy to finish ninth overall

Seychelles’ representative Arsu have concluded the Confédération Africaine de Volleyball club championship which took place in Nabeul, Tunisia in ninth overall place, following their victory over Letto Volleyball Academy of Cameroon in the classification match for ninth and 10th positions.

In the classification match, Arsu came from a set behind to win 3-1. After losing the first set 22-25, Arsu managed to redeem themselves in the second set, winning it 25-21 to level the match, before clinching the third set on the same score – 25-21 – for a 2-1 lead.

Already smelling victory, Arsu went on to win the fourth set 25-15 and the match 3-1 to finish ninth overall at the championships.

Initially drawn in pool A, alongside AJD Diofior of Senegal, Quatre Bornes Volleyball Club of Mauritius and Club Féminin de Carthage of Tunisia, Arsu lost their first group match 0-3 (15-25, 15-25, 11-25) at the hands of the Tunisians.

In their second group match they were victorious – 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-23, 28-26) – over Quatre Bornes Volleyball Club, before beating AJD Diofior 3-1 in their third match in the group. The set scores were 25-21, 25-19, 20-25 and 25-17.

After finishing second in the group on six points, Arsu lost their knockout phase (round of 16) match 0-3 against Chief Naval Staff Spikers of Nigeria, failing to earn a place in quarterfinals.

They lost the first set 25-27, before losing the second and third sets 14-25, and 19-25 respectively.

Zamalek of Egypt are the new champions after defeating Kenya Pipeline Company 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-15, 25-17) in the final.

To qualify for final, Zamalek eliminated Mouloudia Club Alger 3-1 (25-18, 15-25, 25-17, 25-18) in the first semifinal, while in the second semifinal, Kenya Pipeline Company rallied past Club Féminin de Carthage for a hard-fought 3-2 win. The set scores were 18-25, 27-25, 25-23, 23-25 and 15-9.

The Women's African Volleyball Clubs Championship is an international women's club volleyball competition organised by the Confédération Africaine de Volleyball (CAVB).

It is the most important continental women's club volleyball competition in Africa and was first contested in 1986, it was not held for a few years during the 1990s, but tournaments have been held every year since 1997.

The Final standing of the 2023 Women's African Volleyball Clubs Championship

1.        Zamalek (Egypt)
2.       Kenya Pipeline Company (Kenya)
3.       Club Féminin de Carthage (Tunisia)
4.       Mouloudia Club Alger (Algeria)
5.       Kenya Commercial Bank ( Kenya)
6.       Armée Patriotique du Rwanda (Rwanda)
7.       Chief Naval Staff Spikers (Nigeria)
8.       Nyong et Kelle Volleyball (Cameroon)
9.       Arsu (Seychelles)
10.   Litto Team Volleyball Academy (Cameroon)
11.   Quatre-Bornes Volleyball Club (Mauritius)
12.   Co Decaretes (Ivory Coast)
13.   Nigeria Customs Service (Nigeria)
14.   ASAC Saltigué (Senegal)
15.   National Alcohol Liquor Factory (Ethopia)
16.   AJD Diofior (Senegal)

 The championship’s Hall of Fame

Best Outside Hitter – Dallal Merwa Achour (Mouloudia Club Alger)

Best Outside Hitter – Jihen Mohamed (Club Féminin de Carthage)

Best Middle Blocker – Farida Elaskalany Ahmed (Zamalek)

Best Middle Blocker – Trizah Atuka (Kenya Pipeline Company)

Best Opposite – Naomie Too (Kenya Pipeline Company)

Best Setter – Hana Sanad (Zamalek)

Best Libero – Raghda Ben Smida (Club Féminin de Carthage)

Most Valuable Player – Farida Elaskalamy (Zamalek)

Roland Duval