Excitement as GSU, Kenya Pipeline and DCI win to close in on final spots

Former Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) National League champions General Service Unit (GSU) and Kenya Pipeline are a match away from the final.

On Friday, the duo won their respective matches of the ongoing semi-finals play-offs of the 2024-2025 season at Makande Hall, Mombasa, to inch closer to the final set for Kasarani Indoor Arena.

GSU beat Equity Bank in sets of 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23), whereas Pipeline came from a set down to dismiss defending champions KCB Bank 3-1 to set one foot in the final.

In the first match of the day, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who are eager to secure their first-ever podium finish, edged out former titleholders Kenya Prisons in a thrilling five-set thriller.

From the whistle, DCI showed their intent to win by controlling the game to win the first set 25-21. This awakened the fighting spirit in the wardresses, who totally subdued them to take the second set 25-12 and draw level. The third set was evenly contested, but it was DCI who held their nerve to restore their lead, 26-24. Kenya Prisons would fight on to take the fourth set 25-22 for a decisive fifth set, which DCI won 15-12 to take a 1-0 advantage.

The sleuths who are having their best season since making their National League debut in 2018, are determined to break the fourth-place jinx this season. They have been finishing behind KCB, Kenya Prisons and Kenya Pipeline for the last four seasons, but they are determined to turn their fortunes around. A win against the wardresses today will guarantee them a silver medal, though they believe that they have what it takes to win the trophy.

DCI setter Vivian Vugutsa, who has been at the core of their impressive campaign, said that they believe in themselves and will be out to seal their final spot today.

“We are confident, we believe in ourselves, and above all, we are committed to this course. This is our year, and we look forward to winning our next game and playing in the final at Kasarani,” Vugutsa said.

Pipeline will be looking to seal their final slot on Saturday when they take on holders KCB in their second game. This is after the Oilers took a 1-0 lead following their 3-1 win over the bankers, who must win today’s clash to revive their hopes of successfully defending their title.

After a slow first set that allowed KCB to easily take the first set 25-14, Pipeline returned stronger to dominate the game to win the second set 25-16. The oil merchants would call the shots to take the third and fourth sets 25-18 and 25-23 even as the bankers tried to salvage the game.