GSU thump Rangers

By Ben Ahenda

National champions General Service Unit (GSU) secured their second win of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league when they hit Forest Rangers 3-1 sets in their third match at Kericho Day Secondary School.

Though GSU escaped with victory, they have scars to show having received as much as they could give from a spirited Rangers side with the match lasting four sets of 25-18, 25-19, 13-25 and 25-23.

The victory pushed the paramilitary side in the driving seat as they await the second leg of the KVF league in Nyeri next month.

Mombasa Prison players block the ball during KVF national league in Kericho. [PHOTO:BEN AHENDA/STANDARD]

However, Rangers picked up the pieces and managed to direct their anger to Kakamega Prisons winning 3-1 sets of (25-19, 25-22, 19-25 and 25-15).

Kakamega Prisons retaliated by smashing Nairobi City Council 3-0 (25-23, 25-19 and 28-26) but Oserian were not lucky as they got thumped by Nyeri Stima 0-3 (24-26, 20-25 and 22-25).

On their part, Blue Triangle coached by former national coach Sammy Kirongo dismissed Mombasa Prisons 3-0 (26-24, 25-23 and 25-21).

In the women’s KVF Division One league matches, Kenya Prisons defeated Nyeri Stima 3-0 (25-16, 25-14 and 25-20) while debutantes National Talent Academy hammered Nairobi City Council by the same set margin of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-21. Champions Kenya Pipeline stopped Nairobi Water 3-1.

Improve standards

Kenya Commercial Bank must also polish their skills in order to register credible performance in the Africa Club Championships after they slipped 3-1 to Kakamega Prisons. The warders conquered the bankers 25-17, 25-21, 18-25 and 25-13 in a closely contested match.

Blue Triangle kept their winning ways after they dismissed Nairobi City council 25-9, 25-18 and 25-21).

In the men’s Division Two matches, Co-operative Bank beat Kenya Meat Commission 3-0 (25-19, 25-13 and 25-17) while Ruiru Municipal Council stopped Eldoret Stima 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25 and 15-11) with Vegpro smashing Nairobi Prisons in straight 3-0 sets of 25-12, 25-20 and 25-8.

In the Mutai Enterprises Cup, which attracted 31 teams and played at Kericho Township Primary School on Saturday, Forest Rangers hit Nyeri Stima 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-22 and 25-23) in the Pool A matches as Nyeri Stima walloped Ruiru Municipal Council 3-0 (25-23, 25-15 and 25-23).

In Pool B, Finlays conquered Kenya Meat Commission 3-2 (25-16, 14-25, 25-22 and 18-16) while Kenya Prisons dismissed Kenya Meat Commission 3-0 (25-9, 25-15 and 25-14).

General Service Unit started off well in their two matches of Pool D by hitting Vegpro 3-0 (25-12, 25-16 and 25-21) and Eldoret Stima 3-0 (25-10, 27-25 and 25-15) as Eldoret Stima revenged against Vegpro with a 3-1 thumping of (25-19, 19-25, 25-20 and 25-18).

Mombasa Prisons and Blue Triangle won their matches against Oserian in Pool C. They defeated the flower men with a margin of 3-1 each spread as 25-21, 25-19, 16-25 and 25-20 and 25-21, 25-22, 22-25 and 25-12.

Meanwhile, GSU head coach Gideon Tarus has asked KVF to expose men teams in serious international matches in order to help them gain experience. While acknowledging the federation’s participation in exposing women sides when faced with crucial assignments like the women World Cup assignments, Tarus asked KVF to give men teams such opportunities.