PRISONS, PIPELINE DOMINANT:Atuka and Bett bag MVP awards after play-offs

Kenya Pipeline Company women volleyball players celebrate with their head coach Japhet Munala after beating Kenya Prisons in the final match of the Kenya Volleyball Federation National League play-offs at the KPA Makande GYM on Sunday night, November 28, 2016. Kenya Pipeline won 3-2 to be crowned this year's champions. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Newly crowned women and men champions Kenya Pipeline and Kenya Prisons players dominated the volleyball awards ceremony held on Sunday night.
The two teams dominated this year's Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league and it was no surprise that they took the lion's share of the awards during a ceremony held at a Mombasa hotel.
The two teams won the national volleyball play-offs on Sunday evening at the Makande Indoor Gymnasium with unbeaten record and qualified to represent the country in next year's Africa Club Championships.
Women champions Kenya Pipeline had to fight tooth and nail to see off Kenya Prisons, who went into the play-offs having not lost a single match in all the legs of the league throughout the season.
Prisons had most of their star players, who had been away on professional stints in Europe back in the fold, but they still could not prevent Pipeline from successfully retaining the title.
The oil merchants beat Prisons 3-2 while in the men's battle Kenya Prisons made their department proud after locking up General Service Unit (GSU) to reclaim the title. GSU also went into the play-offs with an unbeaten record, but the warders had other ideas.
Both Pipeline and Prisons (men) were awarded Sh300,000 for their efforts.
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) finished third above Nairobi Water whom they beat 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-16) in the women matches while GSU, KPA and Nairobi Water finished second, third and fourth respectively in the men category.
During the award ceremony, Kenya Pipeline centre blocker, Triza Atuka and Jairus Bett of Kenya Prisons were declared this year's KVF league Most Valuable Players (MVPs) for both men and women.
Atuka was qoustanding for Pipeline in retaining the women's title for a third year running while Bett played a big part in Prisons journey to clinching back the league title from rivals GSU.
Jane Wacu (Prisons) and John Bosco of Kenya Ports Authority scooped the best setter and best receiver awards.
Meanwhile, Kenya Prisons overall Team Manager David Kilundu says the teams have benefitted a lot from their professional players whom they have seconded to play in Europe.
"These players make regular visits to our training camps and give crucial tips, which have seen the teams transform to better sides," said Kilundu.
He singled out Mike Chemos, who is based in Finland as one of the players who played a key role to see Prisons recapture the title from GSU.
Kilundu also hailed both Prisons teams for their exemplary performance in the play-offs and said the focus is for the men's continental Club Championships.

KVF League Individual Awards
Men
MVP: Jairus Bett - Kenya Prisons
Best receiver: Tonje Kirwa-GSU
Best Server: John Bosco - KPA
Best libero: Peter Kibata – Kenya Prisons
Best attacker: Cornelius Kiplagat - GSU
Best blocker: Julius Lelei -Nairobi Water

Women
MVP: Triza Atuka - Kenya Pipeline
Best setter: Jane Wacu - Kenya Prisons
Best blocker: Edith Wisa - Kenya Prisons
Best attacker: Ruth Chelangat -Nairobi Water
Best server: Phosca Kasisi KCB
Best libero: - Agripina Kundu -Pipeline
Best receiver: Noel Murambi – Pipeline