Champions off to perfect start: Pipeline, Prisons win as national volleyball playoffs get underway

Prisons women volleyball players celebrates a point as they played against their opponents KCB during the Kenya Volleyball Federation play-offs finals at the KPA Makande GYM, November 25, 2016. Prisons won 3-0. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Reigning national women champions Kenya Pipeline and their rivals Kenya Prison made their intentions clear yesterday.

They both easily won their opening matches as the national volleyball play-offs served off yesterday at Makande Indoor Gymnasium in Mombasa.

The two teams were keen to make a statement by winning the first two matches before they clash tomorrow in the deciding match.

Prisons under the tutelage of national team coach David Lung’aho needed 63 minutes to outplay Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-21) in the opening match.

In the first set, Prison got off strongly to take an 8-5 lead before KCB coach Vernon Khainga called for his first time out after six minutes of play.

Prison side enjoyed the services of Jane Wacu, Yvonne Wavinya, Lydia Maiyo and Bracixides Agala who stood firm to force their opponents into poor services and reception.

The bankers did not even relax in the second set and looked disorganized as Prison enjoyed an 8-0 lead before coach Khainga called for his first timeout.

KCB were led by captain Eunice Maiyo alongside veteran Ednah Rotich, Pauline Wafula and Glady’s Wairimu.

In the second match of the day, champions Kenya Pipeline also dismissed Nairobi Water 3-0 (25-10), 25-17, 25-12) to remain on course of retaining the title for the third year in a row.

Pipeline Coach Japheth Munala paraded his best team to ensure he started the title defence strongly and only needed 18 minutes to win the first set.

In the second half, Nairobi Water coached by John Mwaniki got off well to take an early 8-3 lead forcing tactician Munala to make changes which allowed his girls to settle after a nervy start to the set.