Kenya Pipeline clash with KCB Bank in Kenya Cup final

Juliana Namutara (C) of KCB strike against Trizah Atuka and Faith Imodia of Kenya Pipeline volleyball club during their Kenya Volleyball Federation playoffs for men and women at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi on October 04, 2023. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Reigning Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Women’s National League champions Kenya Pipeline will today battle it out with KCB Bank in the final of the inaugural Kenya Cup at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.

This will be a top-of-the-bill clash as the oilers seek to bag a second major trophy, while the bankers will be looking to redeem themselves after losing the league trophy.

The two sides won their respective semi-final matches yesterday to advance to the final. In a repeat of the league final, Pipeline reigned supreme against the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), whom they beat to lift the gong.

Despite winning in straight sets, Pipeline had to work harder for a place in the final after DCI, who had beaten them in the league regular season, showed resistance in the first and third sets.

The oil merchants showed grit, winning the first set 26-24 even as the detectives put up a spirited fight. Pipeline were stronger in the second set, outplaying the sleuths in all departments to take the set 25-18.

Just like the first set, the third set was evenly contested, with the oilers holding their nerves to win 26-24. Kenya Pipeline’s left attacker Pamela Adhiambo was named player of the match thanks to her brilliant show.

In the first match of the day, former league champions Kenya Prisons suffered another heartbreak after allowing KCB to come from two sets down to carry the day.