Volleyball: Industrious GSU bag fifth-consecutive title

Cornelius Kiplagat had the ball on service with General Service Unit (GSU) needing a single point to seal a remarkable rally of five consecutive league titles and all the team fans prayed that the ball reaches its intended recipient while the opponent was secretly hoping for disaster to strike. 

Kiplagat's precision in service came to play and it was up to the maiden title-hopefuls Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to keep themselves in the match by a single point that would have leveled matters while denying GSU the winning shot. 

The Sammy Mulinge men did everything right with the ball on their court but the final target, GSU's half of the court, was missed by inches and the GSU fans did not wait for the ball to hit the ground before rushing to the area of play in celebration. 

It was a 3-1 hard-fought victory for the defending champions, a win that saw them finish the playoffs unbeaten, having lost two sets in the three matches.

Coach Gideon Tarus maintained the same squad that has been in his starting lineup for the better part of the playoffs with Abiud Chirchir, Shadrack Misiko, Kiplagat, Simon Kipkorir, Brian Melly and Naftali Chumba with Andrew Wafula on libero duties. 

His opposite number, Mulinge trusted Kenya International Enock Mogeni, Elijah Bosire, Levis Ogutu, Dennis Omollo, George Okore and David Thuita with Sam Juma as libero. 

GSU went three points up before KPA could get their first point but Mulinge's charges rallied to come to within a point at 4-3 and 5-4 before leveling the score at five points and taking the lead at 6-5.  

The dockers created a two-point lead at 7-5 and were ahead by a point at the first technical timeout (TTO). 

The see-saw continued but GSU assumed lead at the 12-point mark and created a cushion at 15-12 as they went on to lead by three points at the second TTO. 

Mulinge 11 and 16 for 14 and 2 at 17-15 but their rest was shortlived as they were back on the court with the score at 19-16. KPA rallied to come to within a point of GSU at 19-18 forcing Tarus into the first timeout of the match. 

KPA went ahead 20-19, the timeout having worked in their favour but the paramilitary side leveled matters at 20 points before Misiko paved way for Nicholas Lagat, for Tarus' first substitution. Bonfentry Wekesa was also brought in. 

Tarus had another talk with his charges after smelling blood as the dockers led 23-20. Chirchir made it 23-21 upon return before paving way for Joshua Kimaru on service as GSU made it 23-22 and it was Mulinge's turn for a timeout. 

David Thuita scored KPA's 24th point which was replied immediately by Kipkorir for 24-23 and again for a tie at 24 points. The score was again tied at 25, Tarus reintroducing Misiko for Lagat who delivered a massive block to take GSU ahead at 26-25 as they went on to win 27-25. 

Wekesa started the second set for GSU in place of Chumba while Sammy Ngeny swapped places with Ogutu for the dockers who rallied from behind to take the lead at 6-5 as they went on to lead 8-7 at the first TTO. The dockers created a three-point advantage at 10-7. 

Tarus' charges leveled the score at 11 and again at 12 but KPA led at 13 and 14 by a point as the give and take continued, the dockers leading 16-15 at the second TTO. 

GSU took a timeout as they trailed by two points at 17-15 but the difference remained at 18-16 and further at 19-16 and 20-16 sending the fully packed Nyayo Indoor Arena into a frenzy. 

Nothing could stop the paramilitary's train from going off the rail at they trailed 23-17 and their technical bench had no response for KPA's rally, resulting to urged their charges on, seemingly in acceptance that the set was beyond redemption, losing the set 25-20. 

Mulinge's KPA went ahead by four points in the third set but kept gifting GSU with bad service and poorly placed attacks for the score to be tied at four, five and again at six but it was GSU playing catch-up as the dockers led 8-7 at the first TTO. 

GSU led 16-13 at the second TTO, having assumed lead at 11-10 and the three-point advantage was maintained at 18-15 before KPA cut it to two at 19-17 and further to one at 19-18 forcing Tarus into a much-needed timeout. 

The soldiers led 22-19, 22-20, 22-21 in a dramatic rally from the dockers and Tarus was again on the sidelines for a pep-talk with his charges. 

KPA put up a spirited fight to take the lead at 24-23, 25-24 and the score was tied at 25. GSU went up 26-25 before winning the set 27-25, a repeat of the first set. 

The fourth set was business as usual with KPA leading 8-6 in the first TTO but the scores were tied at eight, nine and ten, the match taking a similar trajectory as the other sets with a single point separating the two sides at most times. 

Volleyball: KPA victorious in five-set thriller against Blazers

The dockers led 16-15 at the second TTO and created a two-point advantage at 17-15 with spectacular blocks and Tarus needed a moment with his charges to restrategise. 

The score was 17 and again at 18, neither team showing signs of relenting in their quest for the title. 

KPA's demeanour on the court, however, changed after GSU went 22-20 up and if took coach Mulinge's pep-talk to bring his boys back for a fight of a lifetime as they leveled the score at 23 points. 

However, the dockers shot themselves in the foot, sending their final chance at forcing a fifth set flying out of the field of play with any touch with the GSU legion for the set to end 25-23 for the paramilitary side and a fifth-consecutive gong sealed.