S. GitahiCAVB: Kenya Pipeline upstaged by first time champs Zamalek in the final
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 22.05.23. | 21:11
The Oilers had beaten Tunisian clunb and third placed finishers Carthage 3-2 to set up the grand final
It was heartbreak for the Kenya Pipeline women’s volleyball team as they stumbled in the 2023 Women’s Africa Volleyball Club Championships finals - falling 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-15, 25-17) to the eventual champions Zamalek SC (Egypt) in a tense championship matchup played at the Hall Nabeul Arena in Hammamet, Tunisia on Monday evening.
Kenya Pipeline were bidding to become African champions for the first time since 2005 but it was the Egyptians who came out firing strongly, clinching the championship for the first time in history.
AFRICA is WHITE@zamalekhalls are Champions of AFRICA pic.twitter.com/7Ct0H9wACC
— CAVB (@CAVBPress) May 22, 2023
The Paul Gitau-led side began the first set strongly - going out to a 2-0 points lead in the first set - before Zamalek responded strongly, winning the next two points before bursting to a huge 12-6 advantage.
A 16-9 lead was then 24-19, and despite Pipeline’s late efforts to rally back, Zamalek claimed the opening set 25-22, as Kenya Pipeline regrouped to dominate the second set.
An impressive second set had the Kenyans, who beat KCB on their way to the national championships, deliver a 15-20 advantage that was soon 18-24, to draw the set score level at 1-1.
The third set was a devastating one from Pipeline’s point of view as they never came close, trailing 11-4 and 20-9, before the North Africans summed it up with a 25-15 scoreline.
Almost hanging on in the decisive set, Kenya Pipeline trailed early; going down 7-3, and despite closing down to 12-10, Zamalek proved too strong with their serves and drove the ball ferociously at the Kenyans, who fell to their first defeat in the competition.
2023 Women’s African Volleyball Club Championship – Tunisia
— CAVB (@CAVBPress) May 22, 2023
Gold Medal Match
KPC (KEN) v ZML (EGY)
Set 1: 22 – 25
Set 2: 25 – 18
Set 3: 15 – 25
Zamalek leads 2-1 pic.twitter.com/gDVIin9Q7z
Pipeline came to the finals at the back of a five-set thriller against hosts Carthage of Tunisia 3-2 (18-25, 27-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-9) in the semifinals to book their first final ticket in almost ten years.
Zamalek on the other hand had beaten Mouloudia Club Alger of Algeria 3-1 (25-18, 23-25,25-17, 25-18) in the other semifinal.
Carthage Feminins Club early Monday clinched bronze after seeing off Mouloudia Club 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-17) at the same venue.
The other Kenyan representatives in the women’s championships - KCB- finished fifth following a 3-0 (25-21,25-18,25-16) win over Chief Naval Staff Spikers of Nigeria.
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