KVF playoffs: Otieno’s heroics lead KDF to semis slot

Coach Elisha Aliwa will have youngster Stephen Otieno to thank, as the setters heroics were on display when Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) saw off a hard-fighting Kenya Forest Service (KFS). 

The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) men's league best-of-three quarters match-up had seen the military side survive a KFS comeback in a Game One on Friday. 

After leading 2-0, Aliwa's charges let their guard down, allowing KFS to tie the sets at 25-18,25-20,19-25,21-25 setting the stage for a deciser that the military side controversially dominated 17-15. 

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In Game Two, KDF found themselves trailing 2-0 as KFS threatened to take the series to a decider match. 

However, Aliwa introduced the young setter Otieno and his clever plays were a game changer in the third set as KDF clawed back for a 3-2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 26-24,16-14) victory, booking a slot in next weekend’s semis series. 

Elsewhere, defending champions Prisons Kenya reigned supreme against Administration Police of Kenya (APK) 3-0 (27-25,27-25 ,25-19) to complete a double against the Francis Nguma-led law enforcers. The opening match in the series had ended in straight sets in favour of the warders.

On their part, former champions and regular league leaders General Service Unit (GSU) played a much-improved Equity Bank side for a sweep, albeit one with some dropped sets. 

Game One ended 3-1(25-18, 22-25, 25-22,25-19) with the bankers surrendering a one set lead to succumb to the David Kirwa-coached side 3-1 (25-22,26-28,18-25,19-25) to join Prisons and KDF in the last four.

Meanwhile, the match-up pitting Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) against Trailblazers saw the dockers win Game Two by straight sets to set the stage for a decider on Monday from 3pm. 

Trailblazers triumbeed in a 5-set thriller against KPA, in Game One winning 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, 21-23) before the dcokers dominated the return clash 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-15).

This is the only clash in the men and women's leagues that has gone to a decider match in the quarters. 

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