Police VC and APR WVC are now one win away from clinching the 2025/26 National Volleyball League titles after dramatic Game 2 victories over Rwanda Energy Group (REG) and Kepler WVC respectively at Petit Stade on Saturday. With a 2-0 lead in their respective best-of-five finals series, both Police VC (men) and APR WVC (women) are firmly in control and could seal the championship with wins in Game 3 scheduled for April 17. Police VC edged REG in a thrilling five-set encounter (13-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 23-21) to tighten their grip on the men’s finals. REG made a strong start, dominating the opening set 25-13 to pile early pressure on the law enforcers. However, Police responded well in the second set after head coach Fred Musoni made key tactical adjustments. He reinforced the defense with middle blocker Placide Sibomana and instructed setter Brian Melly to involve Elphas Makuto more in attack. The changes paid off as Police leveled the match with a 25-23 win. The third set was closely contested, with both teams exchanging leads. REG’s Nicholas Matui proved decisive, delivering key attacks to guide his side to a 25-22 victory. Police showed resilience once again in the fourth set, edging it 25-23 to force a decisive tie-break. Both sides battled point-for-point and, eventually, setter Brian Melly emerged as the hero, producing a crucial block to seal a hard-fought 23-21 win for Police. “The match was very tough—it shows how unpredictable this league can be. We thank God for the win, even though it wasn’t easy. On that final point, I believed I could make the block, so I went for it,” Melly told Times Sport in a post-match interview. In the women’s finals, APR WVC also secured a hard-fought Game 2 victory against Kepler WVC in another five-set battle (25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-13). Led by captain Valentine Munezero, the army side held their nerve in a match marked by tension, including a heated exchange that resulted in yellow cards for Kepler’s Fatoumata Binta Bah and APR middle blocker Albertine Uwiringiyimana for misconduct. In third place playoffs, Kepler VC (men) and Police WVC (women) both moved closer to securing third place after taking 2-0 leads in their respective series. Kepler VC, coached by Jean Patrick Ndaki, defeated Gisagara VC in straight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-19) while Police WVC overcame Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) in a tightly contested five-set match (16-25, 25-21, 25-18, 24-26, 15-13). Game 2 of the finals also saw the Video Challenge System take center stage, although several decisions sparked controversy, with coaches and fans questioning some review outcomes.
