Volleyball: GSU see off Trailblazers to move closer to title defence

Coach Gideon Tarus led his charges General Service Unit (GSU) to a 3-0 annihilation of league and playoff debutants Trailblazers in their second match of the ongoing playoffs at Nyayo Indoor Arena. 

With the win, GSU moved to within one victory, against their regular league tormentors Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on Sunday to defend the title and bag a fifth-consecutive gong. 

"After out first match against Prisons Kenya, we identified areas that needed adjustments and talked to the players about it since we did not have time to train between the two matches. 

I must laud my players for a job well done. They executed our plays well and after realising Blazers' weak areas we exploited them fully and were able to play for a convincing win," offered Tarus. 

Coach Tarus survived a first set scare form the Ruaraka-based Blazers trailing 8-7 at the first technical timeout (TTO) before leading by a single point in the next official timeout. 

Blazers led by three points at 20-17 but GSU rallied to tie the score at 23 points and it was game on. 

The paramilitary side were still playing catch-up with the scores tied at 24 and again at 25 before assuming lead at 26-25 and went on to win the set 27-25.  

The second set was a see-saw in the opening stages as Blazers fought to restore parity. Tarus' charges, however, took control of the set in the later stages to win in a comfortable 25-20. 

"During the regular league, we had trouble handling Blazers as it was our first encounter in the league.We webt back to the drawing board and stidied their plays. We did the same thing in the first set of our match on Saturday and we were able to win," Tarus explained. 

With the stage set for a straight-sets victory, GSU had a strong start in the third set, leading at both TTO's against a side that looked resigned to fate. GSU won 25-14 to earm maximum points and lead by six points ahead of the final day of action. 

"We play KPA in our final match, a side that subjected us to the only loss in the regular season. I must admit they are a good side. I watched them in action against Blazers and Prisons so I will approach that match based on those observations. 

Volleyball: KPA victorious in five-set thriller against Blazers

I am under no pressure, it is a match like any other and in sports anything can happen. I am, however, here to win the title and that is what we will be going for on Sunday," added Tarus. 

The tactician will rely on Kenyan internationals Abiud Chirchir, Brian Melly and Simon Kipkorir with Cornelius Kiplagat, Shadrack Misiko and Naftali Chumba an integral part of his starting lineup.

Nicholas Lagat and Bonfentry Wekesa have proved to be the go-to players when Tarus needs to make amends and have delivered time and again.