Volleyball: Pipeline edge Prisons in five-set thriller

Kenya Pipeline coach Geoffrey Omondi says speed played a part in their hard-fought 3-2 (25-14,25-27,25-22,23-25,18-16) win over perennial rivals Kenya Prisons as the 2024/2025 Kenya Volleyball Federation National League season got underway at the Kamukunji grounds in Nyeri County on Thursday.

The win was a perfect start for Omondi, who joined the Oilers from Trailblazers men's volleyball team this season. It was also sweet revenge for Pipeline, who lost 3-1 to Prisons during last season's play-offs in June at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi.

Despite the victory, Omondi said they need to improve their coordination ahead of Friday's match against Post Bank.  

"I'm glad that one of the systems of play I introduced in the team worked in this tough match. Our speed and reaction were top notch and that worked for us, and I will build on that going forward. Also, our coordination upfront was not good, but the coverage at the backcourt was excellent. The liberos performed pretty well," said Omondi on Thursday.

Prisons coach Josp Barasa decried poor officiating, especially in the last set where he says they were denied two clear scores that would have won them the match.

"It was a tough match, but I believe we would have won were it not for biased officiating in the last set. We will dust ourselves up and plan for our next match against the Young Spikers on Friday. They are new in the league and so we don't know them well, but we will be keen to bounce back," said Barasa. 

"We have also protested and notified the Federation for allowing players who signed for Pipeline from KCB to play without proper clearance, and we wait to see what will come out of the protest," added Barasa.

The players in question are left-attacker Miriam Musa and middle-blocker Marian Sokoiyo. 

In the other women's results, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), under new coach Jeremiah Mukopi, beat newcomers Young Spikers 3-0(25-04,25-5,25-8).

Mukopi filled the gap left by the late Daniel Bor who died in April. Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) defeated Vihiga Volleyball Team 3-0 (25-16,25-23,25-18).

In the men's matches, Equity Bank lost two matches against Kenya Defence Forces 3-0 (25-21,25-15,29-27), and Kenya Ports Authority, while former champions General Service Unit (GSU) dismissed Rift Valley Prisons 3-0 (25-13,25-17,25-17).

Defending champions Kenya Prisons launched their title campaign on a high, recording two wins against Kenya Army 3-0 (25-22,25-15,25-14), and Trailblazers 3-1 (25-21,19-25,25-15,25-20).