New champions set to be crowned as Pipeline, DCI storm into finals

A new Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Women’s National League champion will be crowned at the final set of next month at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.

This is after former holders Kenya Pipeline yesterday defeated last season’s winners KCB Bank 2-0 in the best-of-three semi-finals contest at Makande Hall, Mombasa.

Just like they did in game one, the oilers came from a set down to beat the bankers 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23), bringing to an end their two-year reign.

Pipeline, who are looking to recapture the title they lost to KCB in 2023, had won by the same margin, hence completing a clean sweep against the bankers, who will now play Kenya Prisons in the third-place play-offs.

The oil merchants, on the other hand, will be up against the resilient Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who also registered a 2-0 win against Kenya Prisons.

Former Men’s National League champions General Service Unit (GSU) remained on course to reclaim their title after beating Equity Bank in straight sets of 25-20, 25-20 and 25-16.

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After years of heartbreak and pain, DCI finally shook off the underdog's tag to secure their first-ever podium finish as well as a final slot. The detectives now take the battle for the national gong to former champions Pipeline.

Having declared that this is their year, DCI, who had a 1-0 advantage going into yesterday’s clash, proved that they have indeed come of age and are ready to challenge for the title. However, their victory did not come easy as they fought tooth and nail against the more experienced Wardresses, snatching a 3-2 win just like they had done in game one.

DCI won the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-21, but Prisons recovered to delay their celebrations by winning the third and fourth sets, 25-17 and 25-16.

Determined not to let Prisons shatter their dreams, the sleuths would be more tactical in the fifth set, minimising errors and scoring points to take a 6-1 lead and then stretching it to 8-2. Coach Josp Barasa would call his troops to order following an early timeout that would see them recover to push their score to take a 12-10 lead.

Even so, his DCI equal, Patrick Sang would have his charges regroup very fast to take control of the game and snatch the fifth set 15-12.

An elated Sang said that they were not done and would embark on the preparations for the final immediately because their main objective was to win the trophy.

“We are going to prepare well, it’s not yet over. We made a promise to each other with the ladies that this year we are going to have a medal, and that’s a gold medal, and we are going to fight very hard to achieve our objectives,” Sang said.

Barasa said that they had played very well but luck was just not on their side, adding that fatigue may have contributed to the outcome.

“Some areas didn’t work for us, especially the reception and blocks, though we were also tired because we arrived here late. We will focus on our next match, and hopefully we will take bronze because that is all that is left for us,” said Barasa.