KCB Bank yesterday trounced league champions Kenya Pipeline in straight sets to win the Kenya Volleyball Federation inaugural Kenya Cup trophy as curtains fell on the 2024-2025 season at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
Unlike previous games when the oilers showed grit, yesterday’s clash was different as they seemed totally subdued by the bankers who they dethroned last month. KCB will have their setter Esther Mutinda who returned from a break to thank for her brilliance that kept them in control of the game.
Mutinda’s return was a big boost for KCB who had lost to Pipeline in the league semi-final play-offs and settled for bronze. The bankers had everything going for them with youngster Terry Tata and Malkia Strikers star Juliana Namutira troubling the Pipeline defence with their hard hits and relentless attacks. Their effort would see them take the first set 25-16 giving them a 1-0 lead.
There was no looking back for KCB as they dominated the second set despite Pipeline’s efforts to bounce back. They remained resolute to take the second set 25-19 for a 2-0 lead. The third set was evenly fought with the oil merchants trailing the bankers who were not ready to give them any chance to recover.
Though tightly contested, the bankers outsmarted their opponents to seal the trophy with a 25-22 third set win.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Prisons women won bronze medals after winning their respective third-place play-off matches. KPA broke the hearts of Kenya Prisons players and their fans after denying them a top three finish. The dockers ended the local season with the bronze medal having won the league silver last month.
After being eliminated by the Kenya Defence Forces in the semis, the dockers put up a spirited fight to ensure that they secure a podium finish with a 3-1 win. They showed their intentions from the onset taking the first two sets 27-25 and 25-16. Prisons fought tooth and nail to take the third set 38-36. However, KPA refused to allow them to recover, cruising to victory in the fourth set 25-19.
It was sweet revenge for former women’s league champions Kenya Prisons as they beat the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in straight sets to complete the podium. DCI had eliminated Prisons in the semi-finals of the league play-offs.