Kenya Prisons players celebrate after winning the 2018 Kenya Volleyball federation (KVF) national league title at the Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium on December 3, 2018. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 3 – The Kenya Prisons Women’s Volleyball team has quenched a four-year wait for the national title after beating arch rivals Pipeline 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21) at the Kasarani Gymnasium on Monday afternoon to clinch this year’s crown.
Prisons had played second fiddle to the oilers since their last conquest in 2013 with Pipeline winning the subsequent editions from 2014-2017.
Heading into the final day of the play-offs, Prisons who had won by straight sets against KCB and Bungoma County needed a two set cushion over their rivals and they managed to do so winning the first two sets 25-19 and 25-20.
However, they paid for their complacency with Pipeline snatching a set from them, winning the third 25-22. However, Prisons bounced back to put the game to bed winning the fourth set 25-21.
Pipeline who topped the regular league standings ended up finishing third with resurgent KCB finishing second after beating Bungoma in straight sets (25-18, 25-13, 25-7) earlier on.
Kenya Prisons players celebrate after scoring a point against Kenya Pipeline during the KVF national play-offs at the Kasarani Stadium on December 3, 2018. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Prisons with a refreshed and younger squad served off well cruising to a 8-6 lead at the first technical time-out. On resumption, Japheth Munala’s girls raced back to tie the scores 8-8 and looked well on course to push the warders to the wall.
But Prisons responded with four quick points forcing Munala to use one of his available time-outs and stabilize the ship. But, it didn’t work much as Prisons roared to a 16-14 lead at the second technical time out with Mercy Moim delivering the decisive punch.
Moim continued with her superb form for Prisons and she was at hand to deliver the set 25-19, her strong spike from the right bouncing in the middle of the court with none brave enough to pick it up.
Prisons were coasting in the second set and led 8-3 and 16-8 at the first and second technical time-outs.
But, Pipeline came into the final third of the set with more vigor and pushed the scored to a two-point game at 19-17.
Kenya Prisons’ Joy Luseneka and Edith Wisa pair up to block Kenya Pipeline’s Leonida Kasaya’s spike during the 2018 Kenya Volleyball federation (KVF) national league play-offs at the Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium on December 3, 2018. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
This prompted Prisons head coach Josp Baraza to make two quick changes, Jane Wacu and Yvonne Wavinya coming off for Emmaculate Chemtai and Joy Luseneka.
Pipeline continued with the tide and tied the scores at 21-21, Prisons well rattled for the first time in the game. However, with Mercy Moim calming them down with her experience, Pipeline clinched the set with Under-20 prodigy Sharon Chepchumba scoring three points to aid the warders to the title.
The third set was now more of a war of pride and bragging rights with the title now assured in prisons’ vault.
Baraza’s girls relaxed and this allowed Pipeline a sniff of taking the game and they won the set. They led 8-7 at the first technical time out with Prisons taking charge at the second leading 16-15.
Kenya Prisons’ Lorine Chebet rises up to block Kenya Pipeline’s spike during the 2018 Kenya Volleyball federation (KVF) national league play-offs at the Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium on December 3, 2018. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Determined to go down with a fight, Pipeline dug deep into their energy reserves to win the set 25-22 and force the game into a fourth set.
Into the final set, Pipeline threatened to turn the tie into a five-set game when they led 8-3 at the first technical time out, but the warders turned it over at the second to lead 16-14 and ultimately take the set with an assured finish.
