KCB make light work of Pipeline in KVF playoffs rebattle.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) women's league former champions Kenya Pipeline got their campaign for the league title off to a losing start as the fell to the star-studded KCB by three straight sets at the KVF playoffs ongoing at Makande Hall, Mombasa. 

Coming into the playoffs, KCB had finished second on the log in the regular league, only dropping points in their encounter against Kenya Prisons while Pipeline were third after losses to both KCB and Prisons. 

The Paul Gitau-coached side started the on a low, trailing 8-5 and 16-9 in the first and second technical timeout (TTO) as they went on to lose the set 25-18.

In the second set, Pipeline were again trailing at the first TTO (8-5) but pulled themselves back into the match to level the score at nine points. The bankers were, however, on a roll and quickly regained a three-point lead for 16-13 in the second TTO, and eventually won the set in 25-18. 

Gitau's charges returned for the third set on a mission to steal at least a set form the title hopefuls, going into the first TTO in the lead for the first time at 8-7. They held on to the one point lead but crumbled when it mattered, allowing KCB to assume the lead in the second TTO at 16-15 and run away with it for a 25-18 win. 

"Having a positive start to the playoffs was very important for us and we got it. Dispensing former champions was no easy task. It is a morale booster heading into the next match against Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who have given the defending champion Prisons a hard time in the opening day.

As a coach, I have won most of my championships with my former club here in Mombasa and I feel the good start is an indication of the same," said KCB head coach Japheth Munala said.