Kenya Prisons lock up KDF as Pipeline get walkover against Maranatha in KVF league

Former Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league champions Kenya Prisons picked maximum points at Nyayo Stadium Basketball gymnasium on Thursday after disarming Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the fourth leg of the league action.

Other former league champions Kenya Pipeline also had a good outing after picking easy points without breaking a sweat.

Kenya Pipeline were set to play in the opening match at 9am, but the Oilers were awarded a walkover after their opponents Maranatha failed to turn up.

Pipeline were hoping to use the match to quickly hit back from the disappointment of losing the CAVB Zone V title to Rwanda’s APR in Kampala, Uganda on Monday.

The Oilers will have to wait until Friday to rectify the mistakes they made at the Zone V tournament when they take on Vihiga at 9am.

In the second match of the day on Thursday, Kenya Prisons showed why they are among the favourites to win the league title with a 3-0 (25-14,25-22, 25-20) win over KDF.

It was not a walk in the park for Kenya Prisons though as the KDF girls gave as much as they received.

The experience in the Kenya Prisons ranks would however come to the fore as coach Jackline Baraza’s KDF charges couldn’t keep up in the three sets.

Once again Kenya Prisons coach Josp Baraza relied heavily on national team players Ann Lowen and setter Joy Luseneka.

The evergreen Brackcides Agala was also among the support cast in the win.

In another match also played on Thursday, Nairobi Prisons were pushed all the way by Kenya Army before winning 3-2 (25-15,24-26,25-23,16-25,19-17).

Reigning league champions KCB bank were also in action in the late match of the day on Thursday and they won 3-1 (25-15,22-25, 25-13,25-19) against Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

The match was a repeat of the final at the Kipchumba Karori tournament on Decumber, 2024 which KCB Bank won but after a fierce fight from DCI.

DCI went into the match with an unbeaten record, but KCB showed their power from the first serve before overpowering the DCI girls 25-15.

DCI fought back in the second set which they won 25-22 but they couldn’t maintain the same momentum in the third and fourth sets which they lost and in the process suffered their first loss in the league.