Kenya airways flying start

By Oscar PilipiliI

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenya Airways put up a sterling show to beat Finlays 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 25-12) in Kenya Volleyball Federation league encounter that lasted one hour 27 minutes.

The victory brought Airways win-loss ratio to 1-1 in the second leg of the league at Dedan Kimathi grounds in Nyeri Town.

Airways had lost 1-3 (26-24, 19-25, 23-25, 23-25) to champions Prisons in their first fixture on Friday.

General Service (GSU), last year’s silver medallists maintained their tempo after winning their two matches.

The paramilitary men beat Blue Triangle 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-18) and beat Stima Eldoret 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-14) in 56 minutes.

Forest Rangers won their opening match after they overcame Stima Mombasa 3-1(25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 25-11).

On a day that big teams dominated, Ulinzi, who finished third overall last season, overcame Stima Mombasa 3-0 (25-14, 25-7, 25-19) to bag maximum points.

Champions Prisons were forced to use every ounce of their energy to overcome Ulinzi 3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 12-25, 23-25, 15-11) in a thrilling five-setter that lasted two hours.

Blue Triangle won all their two matches against Co-operative Bank and Nyeri Stima.

They beat Co-operative Bank 3-0 (19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-22) in their first match that lasted one hour 24 minutes.

Blue Triangle, who are coached by national team assistant coach, Sammy Kirongo, recorded their second victory after they beat Nyeri Stima 1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-9) in 1:13 hours.

Women’s national league champions Prisons and last year’s silver medalists Pipeline recorded convincing results in the one-day competition.

Prisons needed to work extra hard before overcoming Kenya Commercial Bank 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-13).

Pipeline had little difficulty dismissing Mount Kenya University 3-0 (25-8, 25-9, 25-9) in a one-sided match.

Nairobi Water needed one hour 21 minutes to see off Stima Mombasa 3-1 (25-15, 25-14, 22-25, 25-14), while Prisons hit Ulinzi in straight sets of 25-20, 25-18, 25-14).

Nairobi Water used the competition as build-up to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Tournament that will be held in Kigali on June 1-2.

Men Division One

Kenya Prisons 3 Kenya Airways 1 (24-26, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23)

Oserian 3 Finlays 1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 25-18)

Co Operative Bank 3 Eldoret Stima 0 (25-18, 27-25, 25-14)

General Service Unit 3 Blue Triangle 0  (25-21, 25-14, 25-18)

Ulinzi 3 Mombasa Stima 0 (25-14, 25-7, 25-19)

Rangers 3 Stima Mombasa 1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 25-11)

Nyeri Stima 3 Prisons Mombasa 2 (21-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 15-12) 1:44min

General Service Unit 3 Stima Eldoret 0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-14)  

Kenya Airways 3 Finlays 1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 25-12)

Blue Triangle 3 Co Operative 1 (19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-22)  

Blue Triangle 3 Nyeri Stima 1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-9) 1:13hrs