M. KisengeMaverick Kenya Pipeline reclaim league title after flooring KCB
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 22.01.23. | 16:45
Pamela Adhiambo named as the best player in the playoff
Kenya Pipeline are the 2022-2023 Kenya Volleyball Federation National League champions after coming from a set down to beat African champions KCB 3-1 (18-25,25-22,25-18 and 26-24) at the Kasarani Indoor Arena on Sunday.
Pipeline who last won the title six years ago had to break sweat enroute to laying hands on the title as KCB who paraded a team made of young and experienced players took the first set in a convincing way.
However, the oilers had the last laugh as they recovered and won three successive sets to succeed outgoing Kenya Prisons.
Pipeline attacker Pamela Adhiambo was named as the playoffs Most Valuable Player with her teammates; Rose Magoi and Gladys Ekaru being feted as the best blocker and setter respectively.
The evergreen Prisons hitter Brackcides Agala was named the best receiver with KCB's Lincy Jeruto taking home the best libero's award. Sarah Namisi of DCI is the season's best attacker.
Trailing 13-9 in the first set, Pipeline called for the first timeout to strategise on how to bridge in the rift and go neck to neck with the bankers.
The short break worked well for Pipeline as they closed in KCB who also requested for a time out when the scoreboard was reading 16-15 in their favour.
Upon resuming, KCB who heavily depended on Mercy Moim and Marriam Musa for points as opened a four point gap, prompting Pipeline to called for the thirty-second long break looking to claw back and even the scores
However, stopping KCB on their tracks proved hard as they pulled away and would bag the set with a seven-point gap.
The second set was more of a seesaw battle as both teams exchanged leads but Pipeline were more clinical in the closing stages to take it home.
Paul Gitau's charges could not be stopped as the third set went in their favour to be on the cusp of the national title that has been missing in their cabinet since 2017.
Pipeline build on the momentum, holding on pressure from the bankers to scoop the match winning set.
