Prisons stop Pipeline in women’s volleyball league

Kenya Prisons yet again stopped their archrivals Kenya Pipeline 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 17-25, 25-22) in a feisty women’s Kenya Volleyball Federation league match played at Ndakaini Stadium in Murang’a County on Friday.

This was the first game for both teams in this season’s campaign.

The two teams skipped the opening leg of matches that were held in Nyeri County to prepare for the women’s Africa Club Championship in Tunisia.

Prisons assistant coach Josep Baraza was understandably excited by this outcome. He said: “Our approach was good and that was why we won the first two sets easily. Overall we are determined to win all  our matches this season and end our three year title drought.”

Pipeline coach Japheth Munala meanwhile hinted that his team had lost out owing to the unavailability of three dependable stars, Janet Wanja, Noel Murambi and Esther Wangeci, owing to personal commitments.
“I missed most of my senior players,” said Munala. but I am proud of the performance by the youngsters. You will know our true character in the play-offs.”

In other other women's league match played at the same venue, Nairobi Water edged KCB 3-2 (23-25,26-24, 14-25, 25-20, 15-11) in a five set thriller.

In the men's league, General Service Unit edged Kenya Prisons 3-1 (25-18, 26-24, 25-21, 25-22) in a top of the table clash. This was a shock loss for Prisons who dethroned their opponents of the championship during the play-offs held in Mombasa last November.

"There is nothing to worry about the defeat. It is just the start of the season and as you are aware we are coming off an indoors tournament (at the Africa club championship in Tunisia) and it took us sometime to adapt to the game. We will judge ourselves after the tournament on Sunday."said Prisons coach Gideon Chenje.

In other selected results Vihiga County thumped Nairobi Prisons 3-0(25-18, 25-17 and 27-25) whilst Kenya Defence Forces lost 1-3 (22-25, 26-28, 19-25 and 18-25) to Co-operative bank.

Full results:

Men

GSU 3-1 Prisons (25-18,26-24,25-21,25-22)

Mombasa Prisons 2-3 Forest Rangers (25-22,23-25,25-22,22-25,13-15)

KDF 3-1 Prisons (25-16,25-14,22-25,25-17)

GSU 3-2 Nairobi Water (25-23,27-25,18-25,20-25,15-13

KDF 1-3 Cooperative (22-25,26-28,19-25,18-25)

KPA 3-0 AP (25-22,25-22,25-15)

Vihiga County 3-0 Nairobi Prisons (25-18,25-17,27-25)

Forest Rangers 1-3 Prisons (11-25,17-25,25-20,19-25)

Women

Pipeline 1-3 Prisons (19-25,25-21,17-25,22-25)

Nairobi Water 3-2 KCB (23-25,25-24,14-25,25-20,15-11)