Prisons, Pipeline off to flying start in volleyball league

Daniel Kiptoo of Kenya Prisons leads teammates in celebrating their victory over GSU in a past match. PHOTO | FILE |

What you need to know:

  • Regular campaigners Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and debutantes Bungoma County also got off to a bright start, posting impressive results in their matches.
  • Nairobi Water maintained a clean sheet as well in their 25-13, 24-14 and 25-13 success over Mount Kenya University (MKU).

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league champions Prisons Kenya (men) and Kenya Pipeline (women) easily won their matches as this season’s campaign got off at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Friday.

Regular campaigners Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and debutants Bungoma County also got off to a bright start, posting impressive results in their matches.

Dethroned champions Kenya Prisons started the journey towards reclaiming the women’s title by beating debutants Nairobi Queens  27-25, 25-19 and 25-14 and later got past Bungoma County 25-19, 25-16 and 25-14. Title holders Kenya Pipeline also easily beat newcomers Queens in straight sets of 25-13, 25-20 and 25-15.

“We are satisfied with the result. The victory is vital and will give us the confidence to go all the way,” Pipeline captain Ruth Jepngetich said.

Nairobi Water maintained a clean sheet as well in their 25-13, 24-14 and 25-13 success over Mount Kenya University (MKU).

In the men’s competition, KDF who paraded four of their new signings in Naftali Chumba, Maxwell Ekunoit, Isaac Kogo and Emmanuel Melly, claimed a 3-0 (25-18, 30-28 and 25-14) win over Mombasa Prisons. Bungoma County and Co-op Bank also beat Administration Police (AP) and MKU respectively.

The competition now takes a three-week break before the second leg of matches resume, but the focus now shifts to the Kenya Pipeline volleyball tournament, a two-day competition that will be played this weekend.

A total of 30 teams, among them all top flight volleyball clubs, have confirmed participation, according to KVF’s acting organizing secretary Ndirangu Iguanya. Winners will pocket each Sh100,000  in prize money, while runners-up will take home Sh50,000.