Kenya Prisons underlined their status as volleyball queens after they won the national league play-offs at Africa Nazarene University.
Prisons’ Bracksides Agala and Loice Tarus reach for the ball during their Alpha II Plus tournament finals against Pipeline in Nyeri mid this year.
Prisons defeated arch-rivals Pipeline 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-18) to win their fifth title.
Pipeline went into the match with a lot of confidence as they had not lost to Prisons this season.
But Prisons coach David Lung’aho had other ideas.
Successful attack by Everline Makuto and double blocks by Diana Khisa and Bracksides Agala handed Prisons first two points of the game.
Prisons with good combination by libero Elizabeth Nafula, setter Jane Wacu, Everline Makuto and Bracksides Khadambi scored three successive points to bring scores to 5-1.
Pipeline got their first points when Noel Murambi’s attack penetrated Prisons defense with precision.
Dominate proceedings
Prisons dominated the proceedings to take 8-4 lead at first technical time out.
Prisons would then race to 16-13 lead at the second technical time out before cruising to impressive 25-18 victory.
Pipeline gave away easy points in opening set as they hit net at least three times.
The opening minutes of the second set were closely contested but Prisons played well to take 8-5 lead at first technical time out.
Prisons would then extend their lead to 13-9 before extending the gap to 16-9 at second technical time out.
Pipeline tried to come back into game with Esther Wangeci, Jepleting, Murambi attacking ferociously but Prisons held on to take the set 25-18.
Pipeline started third set with purpose as they gained three quick points.
Prisons recovered to take 8-6 and 16-11 advantage at technical time out before cruising to 25-18 victory.
Lung’aho opted to play Khadambi on right and the strategy worked well.
Lung’aho said: “Playing Khadambi on the right was our secret weapon.”
Forest Rangers men’s team impressed by beating Defence Forces 3-1 (24-26, 25-14, 25-20, 25-23) to bag bronze.
Nairobi Water queens clinched bronze after defeating Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) 3-2 (25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 16-25, 16-14) in a five-setter thriller lasting two hours 24 minutes.
Nairobi Water coach John Mwaniki said, “Our target was to finish inside medal brackets, I’m happy we have achieved that.”
By OSCAR PILIPILI, The Standard