Kenya Prisons faced a nail-biting challenge in the men’s national volleyball league final but ultimately emerged victorious, defeating defending champions General Service Unit (GSU) in a hard-fought battle that extended to five sets.
The Warders started strongly, taking a commanding lead by winning the first two sets with scores of 25-20 and 25-22. However, a determined GSU staged a remarkable comeback, securing the third set with a score of 25-22 and pushing even further by winning the fourth set in a thrilling 30-28 encounter.
In the decisive fifth set, Kenya Prisons managed to regain their composure and form, ultimately prevailing with a score of 15-10 to clinch the national volleyball league title for the first time in seven years.
Assistant coach Saul ‘Omunyange’ Wafula, a former Prisons player himself, expressed the team’s joy and the significance of their victory. He explained that the team had made several changes and brought the players together over the course of three weeks, leading to this triumphant moment.
The match began with GSU taking an early lead, thanks to Joshua Kimaru’s powerful serves that earned them three consecutive points and a 6-2 advantage. Prisons called for a timeout to regroup and managed to narrow the gap, but GSU remained strong, keeping the scores close and ultimately winning the first set 25-20.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Prisons demonstrating effective net defence to counter GSU’s strong attacks. Prisons maintained their efficiency, securing the second set with a well-executed game plan.
However, the third set proved challenging for Prisons as they found themselves trailing by three points at 17-14, prompting another timeout. The team rallied back, led by captain Hudson Chesoli and Kelvin Maiyo, levelling the scores at 21-21. Yet, GSU’s determination prevailed, and they managed to win the set 25-22.
In the fourth set, Prisons displayed determination and a strong start, but GSU remained equally focused. The set remained closely contested, with GSU ultimately tying the game at 2-2, winning with a score of 30-28.
Despite the frustration of letting a seemingly well-controlled game slip away, Kenya Prisons regrouped for the tiebreaker. They minimized their errors and maintained a comfortable lead, securing the final set 15-10 to claim the coveted title.
Kenya Prisons’ victory marked a triumphant return to the top of the men’s national volleyball scene, ending a seven-year title drought.
