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No love lost for volleyball siblings Tata and Itoo in high-octane league semi-final clash
Malyne Terry Tata of KCB spikes against Kenya Prisons Pamela Masaisai and Shyrine Jepkemboi during Kenya Volleyball Federation National Women League semi-finals play-offs match at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on July 3, 2026.
What you need to know:
- KCB’s opposite attacker Malyne Tata will line up against her elder sister, outside hitter Pauline Itoo of Kenya Prisons.
- The match will be a repeat of the 2024 final which the bankers won 3-0 sets to lift the title at Kasarani in Nairobi.
There will be no love lost when siblings Malyne Terry Tata and Pauline Itoo line up for different teams in the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Women’s Division One League semi-finals that serve off at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani on Friday evening.
KCB’s fast-rising opposite attacker Tata will line up against her elder sister, outside hitter Pauline Itoo of Kenya Prisons, in the Division One League semi-finals at Kasarani Indoor Arena, each hoping to push her team to the final.
Whereas both KCB and Kenya Prisons are eyeing victory in the best-of-three semi-final matches to recapture the title each has won in the past, the match will be a repeat of the 2024 final which the bankers won 3-0 sets at the same venue to lift the title.
The two sisters went toe to toe in the regular season of the 2025/2026 league campaign. Kenya Prisons won the first leg match 3-2 sets, and the bankers returned favour, triumphing 3-2 sets in the return leg.
Overall, Kenya Prisons boast a better record than the bankers in the women’s league, having won the national title nine times. KCB have won the coveted crown thrice, and are looking to close the gap on their more illustrious opponents, starting with Friiday’s meeting.
Tata, nicknamed ‘Matata’, Swahili word which means ‘rubble-rouser’ will be looking to get the better of her elder sister Itoo. Itoo has made a name for herself in the league as an explosive attacker and has been at the heart of KCB’s victories on the local scene.
Kenya Under-20 women’s team captain Tata emerged the best player and opposite attacker at the 2025 Africa Under-20 Championships with trademark spikes and jump shots.
KCB players celebrate a point against Kenya Prisons during Kenya Volleyball Federation National Women League semi-finals play-offs match at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on July 3, 2026.
Kenya Prisons are chasing a first league title since 2021. On that occasion, Prisons subdued KCB 3-1 sets in the final to win the title.
KCB swept past Kenya Defence Forces 2-0 sets in the quarter-final matches that ended on June 27 in Mombasa to qualify for the semi-finals. For their part, Kenya Prisons stopped Kenya Army in 2-0 in the best-of-three series.
The battle is also likely to be won or lost in ball delivery for attack, as experienced setters, Esther Mutinda of KCB and Herma Kipyegon of Prisons, come face to face.
Elsewhere, defending champions Kenya Pipeline will again look to their middle blocker Marian Sokoiyo for inspiration as they take on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in the second semi-final match of the day.
Sokoiyo stood out in Kenya Pipeline’s march to the semi-finals with her all-round performance in Mombasa as her team ran out 2-0 winners against Nairobi Prisons. Kenya Pipeline are chasing a record 15th title.
Pipeline are fresh from claiming bronze medal in Women’s Africa Volleyball Club Championship stagged in Cairo last month.
“It’s our hope that we will uphold our dominance in all facets of play, from serving, reception attack and blocking. We are ready for the challenge ahead,” Kenya Pipeline skipper Gladys Ekaru said on Thursday.
This season, new winners of the Men’s Division One League will be crowned.
Chema play Kenya Prisons in the men’s semi-finals, while Kenya Ports Authority clash with Kenya Defence Forces.
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