Rwanda Energy Group (REG) moved within touching distance of the national Volleyball League finals after edging Kepler VC in a thrilling five-set encounter, winning 25-20, 23-25, 33-35, 25-17, 15-10 at Petit Stade on Tuesday. The victory, REG’s second in the best-of-five semifinal series, puts the former champions in a strong position to reach the finals for the first time since 2023. REG made a solid start, taking the opening set 25-20, but Kepler responded with a 25-23 win in the second set to level matters. The third set proved fiercely contested, with both sides battling point-for-point before Kepler narrowly edged it 35-33, inspired by Wicklif Dusenge and Mohammed Radhi Krid. Kepler head coach Jean Patrick Ndaki introduced Jair Santiago in the fourth set to reinforce the attack, but REG responded strongly, dominating the set to force a decisive tie-break. REG proved superior in the final set, sealing the match 15-10. “We adjusted our defence and improved our service after the third set, which they struggled to handle, and that made the difference,” REG head coach Benon Mugisha said. Other playoff results In another men’s semifinal, Gisagara VC suffered a second straight defeat, losing in four sets to Police VC (26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 20-25), leaving them on the brink of elimination. In the women’s category, APR WVC secured their second consecutive win after beating Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) WVC in straight sets (25-12, 26-24, 25-16). Elsewhere, Kepler WVC levelled their series 1-1 against Police WVC with a straight-sets victory (26-24, 25-23, 25-19). However, Police WVC suffered a blow as Ange Uwamahoro and Iris Ndagijimana both sustained injuries during the match. The playoffs resume on March 22, with teams returning for Game 3 of the semifinal series.
