Clash of the titans: GSU, Pipeline, KPA, DCI set for volleyball finals showdown

Battle for the 2024-2025 season Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) men and women’s national title will hit feverpitch today when finalists face off in game one of the best-of-three series at Kasarani Indoor Arena.

Former champions the General Service Unit (GSU) and Kenya Pipeline will have everything to play for when they take on title-hungry Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The league titles have eluded both teams for two years having last won in 2022.

GSU dismissed Equity Bank whereas KPA beat Kenya Prisons in the men’s contest, Pipeline saw off KCB Bank, while DCI humbled former titleholders Kenya Prisons in the women’s challenge.

GSU and Pipeline will be seeking to blink first and enhance their chances of recapturing the titles they lost to dethroned Kenya Prisons and KCB Bank respectively.

A win in today’s matches will give them the crucial 1-0 lead moving one win closer to the title.

Two straight wins will see them complete the job without having to go through the struggle of playing the decisive third tie.

However, they face a serious challenge from opponents who are yearning to win their maiden titles and write their names in annals of Kenyan volleyball history.

KPA and DCI have not only been very impressive but also consistent and will be out to ensure that they end the season on a high.

GSU have made clear their intentions to reclaim their title throughout the season finishing the regular season on top of the standings with 39 points and also winning convincingly in the quarter-finals and semis play-offs.

However, they succumbed 3-2 (25-21, 24-26, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13) to KPA which is their only league loss. Both teams dominated their quarter-finals and semi-finals opponents to register a 2-0 sweep to set the final duel.

In the women’s final, the Oilers will be hoping for a good start against the sleuths who beat them 3-1 in their last game of the regular season.

In an interview after qualifying for the final, Pipeline coach Geoffrey Omondi said that he had no option but to win the league trophy.

“We are coming to the end of the season and I think I’ve missed two important trophies that I would have wanted to win; that is the Zone Five and the Club African Club Championship and so I have no choice but to win the KVF national trophy,” Omondi said.