Malkia Strikers captain Meldina Sande has heaped praise on Milka Akinyi following her impressive debut for the senior national women's volleyball team against Zambia in the ongoing CAVB Women's African Nations Volleyball Championship.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAkinyi, who is a Form Four student at St Cecilia, Aluor Girls Secondary School in Siaya County, was handed a starting berth against Zambia by coach Geoffrey Omondi and went ahead to repay the coach's faith in her. Malkia Strikers coach explains fielding 'fringe players' against ZambiaThe soft-spoken outside hitter went ahead to register five scores in the match, the second-best by any Kenyan player, a performance that earned her a warm reception from the fans.Speaking to the press after the match, Sande, who herself is an outside hitter, could only predict a bright future for Akinyi.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915627## “I thank God that the coach gave her (Akinyi) the opportunity to start and show the world what she can do. She is a very good player. With more game time, she will even get better and gain experience,” said Sande.Akinyi, who led Aluor Girls volleyball team to the national level, caught the eye of Omondi with her steady rise and maturity beyond her age, earning her a place in the national team.Malkia Strikers call on Kenyans to fill Kasarani as title defence gathers paceCaptain Sande also lauded the decision by coach Omondi to start with what observers termed as 'fringe players'.“The coach has shown confidence in all players. We do not have fringe players in the team. Whether young or experienced, every player gives their all as was seen in the opening match.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915578##We started with the energy and the urge to go for a win, and that is why we played with seriousness and got our reward,” added the Kenya Prisons Women Volleyball team captain.In the end, the 30-year-old reiterated the team's ambitions to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games as a key motivation in this championship.Kenya's CAVB Women's African Nations Volleyball Championship title defense off to a flyer against Zambia"For this tournament, we are aiming to kill two birds with one stone. We want to qualify for the World Championship and the Olympics at the same time, and so we just have to work hard."