CLOSE TO TITLE: Prisons on the verge of being crowned volleyball champions

kenya volleyball federation national league lay-offs Kenya Prisons men volleyball team players celebrates a point after beating GSU during the Kenya Volleyball Federation National League play-offs at the Makande GYM, November 26, 2016. Prisons won 3-2. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Kenya Prisons are one step from being crowned national men volleyball champions after they upset defending champions General Service Unit (GSU) in an explosive match of the national volleyball play-offs at Makande Indoor Gymnasium, Mombasa.

The win put the Prison warders closer to the title as they need to beat Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) today and be crowned the 2016 champions and qualify to represent the country in next year’s Africa Club championships in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Laos at stake is Sh 300,000 for the winners.

Prison proved to the GSU men that they are more used to live bullets than teargas associated with the former to win the match 3-2 (17-25, 25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 15-11) after 110 minutes of play.

Prison, coached by Gideon Chenje were not scored against by the defending champions and went ahead to win the first set 25-17 within 21 minutes.

However, GSU under the keen watch of coach Gideo Tarus came back strongly and did not make serious mistakes both in service and reception to win the second and the third set.

Priosn rallied from behind with Kelvin Maiyo, Ibrahim Oduor and Jairus Kipkosgei calling shots to level the tally at 2-2 before both teams going for the deciding set.
GSU captain David Kirwa assisted by Alex Kariuki, Wesley Rono and Abraham Rotich played their hearts out in the final set but Prisons looked superior.

In another match, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) increased their chances of finishing at a respectable position after they came from behind to beat Nairobi Water 3-1 (17-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21).

The dockers need to stop Prisons today and be among the favourites to settle for the second position assuming Nairobi Water beats GSU in another match today.

KPA had a sluggish start giving their opponents the chance to organise themselves especially in the first set, which the water men won after 25 minutes of play.

However, the dockers led by their coach-cum-player James Ontere and captain Bernard Musumba played like wounded lions to level the tally and went ahead to win the two subsequent sets to wrap up the match 3-1.