Kenya Pipeline ousts KCB from league apex after mouth-watering climax
Kenya Pipeline Women’s Volleyball team are the 2022/23 National Women’s League Champions following a thrilling playoff victory against KCB in a four-set thriller (18-25, 25-22, 25-18, 26-24) on Sunday at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
Pipeline had lost in the opening set 18-25 in what was an epic battle at the net. However, some tactical changes from Paul Gitau’s girls changed the landscape and soldiered up with incredible team effort against the Bankers. Pipeline who last won in 2017 were deserved winners and were given their poise and aggression against what was an otherwise error-strewn display by their opponents across the net.
Pipeline wisely called for a timeout while trailing at 13-9 and made some switches before resuming to close the gap. In the first set, KCB had Mercy Moim and Marriam Musa to look to for the match winners but Pipeline had their own plans including a change of personnel at crucial moments. However, KCB just proved stronger and closed out the set in style.
The second set seemed like a seesaw but Pipeline proved more effective. Scores and points were interchanged beautifully between the teams but the oil-sponsored team had the last laugh given the clinical finishes. This was the same narrative in the third and fourth sets where Pipeline just had to keep their nerves and work their magic as a team.
Pipeline’s Pamela Adhiambo was named Most Valuable Player with her teammates Rose Magoi and Gladys Ekaru getting the best blocker and setter awards respectively. On the other hand Prisons hitter Brackcides Agala was named best receiver even as KCB player Lincy Jeruto took home the best libero award with Sarah Namisi of DCI being declared the season’s best attacker.
Meanwhile, in the third-place playoff, Kenya Prisons fought hard to clinch the game against the stubborn Directorate of Criminal Investigation in a five-set encounter; (17-25, 30-28, 21-25, 25-18, 15-11). The DCI took home the first set 25-17. Prisons had to wade a serious threat in a 30-28 win in the second set before falling again albeit in tight fashion in the third. A couple of tactical changes saw Prisons stay alive in the remainder set plus a decider to go home with bronze in what was a pulsating encounter.
