GSU come from two sets down to see off KDF

Coach Gideon Tarus' charges General Service Unit (GSU) had to dig deep to pick a win against hard-fighting Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in a Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) men's league playoff encounter played at the Makande Hall, Mombasa. 

Coach Elisha Aliwa and his assistant Sila Makiso had come to spoil the party for the holders and spoil they did, picking a valuable point with a 3-2 loss to the defend champions. 

"Our game plan did not work in the first set and we lost. We had to regroup quickly and the second set was tough. We adjusted to their style of play in the second set and it slightly worked to destabilise them although they still won the set.

We had only one chance to get ourselves back in the match in the third set and with our slightly adjusted plan working, we slowly eased onto our initial game plan and it worked as we went on to win. They pushed us but in the end, we got the lion's share of the points," said Coach Tarus.

KDF began with two quick points but GSU pulled together to level the score. One bad decision after another saw GSU hand KDF the lead, heading to the first Technical Timeout (TTO) leading 8-4. 

Poor services plaqued both sides as KDF maintained the lead making it a five-point game at 12-7 to force the holders into a timeout that did little to change their tide as KDF still led 16-11 at the second TTO. GSU cut the deficit to two points at 19-17 KDF resiliently fought to regain their five-point lead at 22-16. 

GSU clawed their way back to a three-point deficit at 23-20 forcing the KDF technical bench to call for a timeout which worked as they went on to bag the set in 25-22 set scores. 

KDF were unstoppable as the second set, leading 4-0 to prompt Tarus to have a talk with his men. KDF continued their attack and dominant performance to lead 8-4 in the first TTO of the second set. 

The four-point difference remained at 10-6 but GSU cut the deficit to two at 10-8 and 11-9 but the military side would have none of it as they led 16-12 in the second TTO. Coach Aliwa called for a time-out as GSU added two more points to reduce KDF's advantage to two points. 

As if on clockwork, KDF maintained their two point advantage through the phases with GSU leveling the points at 23. The military side went one up with service on their end but they lost it to give GSU a chance at redemption. It was, however, a farfetched dream for the Tarus' men as KDF went on to win the set 26-24. 

It was a point-for-point affair in the third match, with KDF losing their first service to hand the opposition the point. KDF assumed the lead at 3-2 but Tarus' men caught up and held on to head to the first TTO leading 8-7, for the first time in the match. 

KDF assumed lead at 10-9 but lost their service to level the score for GSU at 10 points. With just a point difference, KDF lost their service to take the match to a two-point game as GSU went on to lead 16-14 at the second TTO. 

Siwa Rotich stretched GSU's lead to three points at 17-14, with Brian Melly's service handing GSU their first four point lead at 18-14. GSU led by five points at 20-15 and further to six points at 23-17 as GSU went on to win 25-19. 

A different GSU, a different display and a renewed zeal to protect their territory, the title. The holders fought their way into a 8-5 lead at the first TTO and 16-10 into the second one with Tarus trusting Melly, Bonfentry Wekesa, Simon Kipkorir, Cornelius Kiplagat and Naftali Chumba to do the job for him. The side won the set 25-14 to send the encounter to the decider.

KDF were up first with a service gone wrong for GSU. The latter got their first two point off of KDF's mistakes and the furry of the ever-smiling former Kenyan International Aliwa came to the fore as he urged his charges to play yo their strengths.

KDF led 3-2 and they went ballistic, the opponent, however, had other plans as they score four points in quick succession forcing the Ulinzi men into a timeout. GSU were unbothered by their disruption in momentum as they led 8- 4 at the interchange. KDF only managed one point after the exchange from a Kipkorir service gone wrong ad the set ended 15-5. 

Meawhile, former champions Kenya Prisons came from a set down to bag maximum points in 3-1 outcome against hosts Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). 

Prisons struggled in the first set as Peter Kamara ran riots for KPA, helping the hosts lead 8-3 and 16-13 at the first and second TTO's. The dockers bagged the first set 25-17. 

Meshach Wambua, Michael Chemos and Daniel Kiptoo turned up for the second set, hot, to help prisons level the sets with a 25-22 scoreline. Prisons won the third set 25-21 to double their advantage heading to the fourth set. 

Despite trailing in the early stages of the fourth set, Prisons rallied for a 25-23 set win to pick maximum points and top the table after the first day of action.