Prisons, Pipeline crowned volleyball league champions
Kenya Prisons and Kenya Pipeline are Kenya’s new men’s and women’s volleyball league champions after the conclusion of the play-offs at the weekend.
As expected, Prisons’ men team dethroned GSU with a straight sets victory of 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-20) over Kenya Ports Authority in their final game at the Makande Hall in Mombasa.
The result made it three wins out of three for Prisons in the four-team round-robin tournament.
Coach Gideon Chenje’s team had earlier on beaten GSU and Nairobi Water in other matches.
“I’m happy and relived beyond explanation. We worked so hard to get these results and the competition was also very tough for us. Thank God,” said Chenje.
In the women’s competition, Kenya Pipeline came from behind to defeat nemesis Kenya Prisons for a record equaling third consecutive league title.
FIVE-SET THRILLER
Pipeline won the five-set thriller 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-10) in a match Prisons’ coach David Lung’aho fielded a strong squad featuring Brackides Agala, Evelyne Makuto and Jane Wacu.
The trio returned to the club this season after a professional stint in France. The wardresses however missed key player Mercy Moim who is based in Azerbaijan.
“This is the toughest match I have ever featured in. Prisons were very good and I can just say we won because we worked much harder when it mattered,” Pipeline captain Trizah Atuka said.
Pipeline won all their three matches, having also defeated Nairobi Water and Kenya Commercial Bank in their other engagements engagements.
In the third-place play-off match, KCB defeated Nairobi Water 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 16-25).
“We are pleased with the high standards of the competition and excellent officiating. I can assure you these teams will win the continental title next year,” KVF organising secretary Ishmael Chege said.
The men and women champions were each awarded Sh300,000 as prize money.