Victorious Kenya Prisons, Kenya Pipeline win volleyball league honours
Kenya Pipeline's Trizah Atuka (centre) blocks the ball from KCB's Pauline Nyongesa (right) during their Kenya Volleyball Federation Play-off match at the KPA Makande hall in Mombasa on November 26, 2016. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- Kenya Prisons and Kenya Pipeline on Sunday won Kenya Volleyball Federation men and women’s league titles following convincing victories in play-offs at Makande Hall in Mombasa.
- Prisons dethroned GSU in men’s competition following a straight sets victory of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-20 over hosts Kenya Ports Authority in the final game.
Kenya Prisons and Kenya Pipeline on Sunday won Kenya Volleyball Federation men and women’s league titles following convincing victories in play-offs at Makande Hall in Mombasa.
Prisons dethroned GSU in men’s competition following a straight sets victory of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-20 over hosts Kenya Ports Authority in the final game.
This result made it three wins out of three for Prisons in the four-team round-robin tournament which started on Friday. Coach Gideon Chenje’s Prisons had earlier beaten GSU and Nairobi Water at the same venue.
“I’m happy and relived beyond explanation. We worked so hard to get this result and the competition was also very tough for us. Thank God we won,” said Chenje.
At the same venue, Kenya Pipeline came from behind to defeat rivals Kenya Prisons and win the women’s title for a record-equalling third straight league title. Pipeline took the five-set thriller 25-21, 17-25, 25-22, 23-25 and 15-10.
“This is the toughest match I have ever featured in. Prisons were very good and I can just say we won it because we worked much harder when it mattered,” Pipeline captain Trizah Atuka said after the game.
CLEAN SWEEP
Pipeline managed a clean sweep in the tournament en route to winning the title, having also defeated Nairobi Water and Kenya Commercial Bank in other matches.
KCB defeated Nairobi Water 3-1 sets (25-20, 23-25, 22-25 and 16-25) to settle for third place.
In the biggest game of the day, Prisons lost despite fielding a near full strength squad, with coach David Lung’aho parading Brackides Agala, Evelyne Makuto and Jane Wacu who are back in the country after a professional stint in France.
The wardresses however missed the input of star player Mercy Moim who is based in Azerbaijan.
“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,” Kenya Volleyball Federation’s organising secretary, Ishmael Chege, said.
Kenya Prisons and Pipeline were each awarded Sh300,000 in prize money.
