Kenya Pipeline stun rivals Prisons in Eldama Ravine

What you need to know:

  • Kenya Pipeline on Friday ended rivals Kenya Prisons' unbeaten run in the women's Kenya Volleyball Federation league, with a thrilling 3-0 (25-13,25-23, 25-15) victory in the ultimate leg of matches played at the Eldama Ravine sports grounds in Baringo County.
  • In the men's league, not even heavy downpour that delayed the start of matches for about four hours could distract Kenya Prisons who are the defending champions.
  • The side, under tutelage of veteran coach Gideon Chenje, dispatched Administration Police 3-0(25-16,25-16,25-13) to stretch their points tally to 29.

Kenya Pipeline on Friday ended rivals Kenya Prisons' unbeaten run in the women's Kenya Volleyball Federation league, with a thrilling 3-0 (25-13,25-23, 25-15) victory in the ultimate leg of matches played at the Eldama Ravine sports grounds in Baringo County.

In the men's league, not even heavy downpour that delayed the start of matches for about four hours could distract Kenya Prisons who are the defending champions.

The side, under tutelage of veteran coach Gideon Chenje, dispatched Administration Police 3-0(25-16,25-16,25-13) to stretch their points tally to 29.

Kenya Ports Authority also chalked up two crucial wins on the day.

First, the dockers were pushed to the limit having lost the opening two sets, before staging a comeback to defeat Kenya Defence Forces 3-2(23-25,21-25,25-19,25-21,15-7).

Boasting the experience of internationals David Thuita and Bernard Musumba in their set-up, KPA then followed this result with a more convincing 3-0(25-8,25-19,25-13) triumph over lowly Vihiga County.

Earlier on in the women's league, Prisons - spurred by the presence of a star cast including Malkia Strikers captain Mercy Moim, Everlyne Makuto, Joy Luseneka and Edith Wisa, had downed the vastly improved Kenya Commercial Bank 3-2(21-25,25-15,20-25,25-23,15-10) in a thrilling game involving top of the pile against the second placed team on the six-team standings.

That was before Pipeline administered that humiliating straight sets loss, in a result that had Pipeline coach Japheth Munala elated.

"This is a morale boosting win for us ahead of the playoffs. My players capitalized on Prisons weakness, they were not in good shape today. We have what it takes to retain this title in Mombasa and that is what we will be going all out to achieve."

"It is unfortunate our unbeaten run has been broken by our rivals. But I can admit Pipeline were a better side and deserved to win. We played very badly. The defeat has exposed our weaknesses before the playoffs. We still have a lot of work to do," Prisons coach David Lung'aho explained.

In other results, Pipeline also hammered Western Bombers in straight sets of 25-17,25-11,25-22 points.

As it stands, Prisons, KDF, GSU and KPA look set to qualify for the play-offs from the men's league, with Prisons again, Kenya Pipeline, KCB and Nairobi Water progressing from the women's competition.