GSU, KPA face off in title decider

KPA and Trail Blazers players in action during KVF National League playoffs match at Nyayo Stadium on Friday. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Defending champions General Service Unit (GSU) and Kenya Ports Authority are one step away from winning the Kenya Volleyball Federation men's National League title as they remained unbeaten ahead of today's decisive playoffs match at Nyayo Stadium.

The two teams clash this afternoon in a league decider where the winner will be crowned the 2022 champions.
However, both teams have qualified for next year's Africa Club Championships.

GSU remained on course of retaining the title for the fifth consecutive year after they dismissed newcomers Trail Blazers 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-14) in their second match of the national playoffs barely a day after beating Prisons Kenya 3-1.

Blazers gave good account of themselves especially in the first set where Emmanuel Melly, Stanly Mutua and Captain Ian Omondi gave their opponents hard times.

The two teams kept on exchanging the lead before the paramilitary side coached by Gideon Tarus produced sterling blocks to win the set 27-25.

GSU started the second set strongly with captain Emmanuel Kogo, Simon Kipkorir and Brian Melly combining well with their blocking skills as they went on to win the set 25-20.
In the third set, Blazers under coach Geoffrey Omondi had little to show with their poor serves missing the target thus benefiting their opponents in a match that lasted for one hour 27 minutes.

"Our system of play worked on well after learning our opponent's weakness early enough," said GSU coach Gideon Tarus.

He added that he has met KPA before and he will not be under any pressure when they face off in their last playoff match today.

In their last national league match, Blazers were outstanding before losing to GSU 3-2. Blazers who lost 3-2 to KPA on Friday wrap up their playoffs debut against former champions Prisons Kenya today.

KPA defeated Prisons Kenya 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-11).
Prisons had a better play in the first set before the dockers took control of the subsequent sets as they kept on sending the ball forcefully over the net making it hard for the warders to return it.

A tight battle in the second set led to 8-8 and 13-13 level before the dockers broke away to win the set.
In the third set, KPA blockers Dennis Omollo, Enock Mogeni, Peter Kamara and Levis Ogutu relied on strength and power to unleash plenty of solid blocking and spectacular returns making the court unavailable to the Prisons attackers as there was no space for spiking. Prison's Timothy Kipruto, Kelvi Maiyo and Mechack Wambua had well-coordinated spikes.
The fourth set belonged to the dockers as they went to win it easily 25-11.