Volleyball: KPA victorious in five-set thriller against Blazers

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men's volleyball side got their campaign for Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league title on a winning note, coming from two sets down to beat debutants Trailblazers 3-2. 

The Sammy Mulinge- coached side came into the playoffs in second place, having lost just one match to Prisons Kenya. 

On the opening day of the three-day playoffs,Mulinge's charges survived a 3-0 scare, winning the third set 25-23 to revive hopes of a victory. 

"My players gave a good account of themselves despite the challenges in the first two sets. Reception was our biggest undoing. We also did not play within our system and that allowed Blazers to control the game and in return, our blocks were affected. We made a few changes in the third set and the trouble areas were effectively dealt with. 

We are grateful for this win, regardless of the points picked, a win is a win in the playoffs and uf we can rally for victory in the remaining matches, we should be okay," said Mulinge steering clear of title-winning talk until after Saturday's match against Prisons. 

Blazers went ahead 5-3 in the opening set and the difference was three points as they led 8-5 on the first technical timeout (TTO). 

Geoffrey Omondi's charges extended the advantage to five at 10-5 and again at 11-6 to show early intent. KPA looked out of sorts as Blazers extended the lead to 14-8. 

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The dockers cut the advantage to five at the second TTO at 16-11, but it was back to a six-point game at 18-12, forcing Mulinge into a necessary timeout to make amends. The tactician brought in Enock Mogeni for Peter Kamara as the team returned from the timeout. 

Two guick points for KPA to take the scores to 18-14 were cancelled by the brilliant attack of Dominic Chelule for 20-14. The dockers cut down the deficit to three at 21-18 forcing Omondi into a timeout. 

Blazers went 24-19 ahead and despite needing a single to keep the dockers under 20 points, they had to endure a nerve-racking rally from the Mombasa-based side only winning the final point off of a poor serve from the dockers for 25-22. 

KPA went ahead 4-2 in the second set and again at 6-3 as they went on to lead the first TTO of the set 8-4. However, Blazers rallied from behind to tie the score at nine points and went on to lead 11-9. 

The advantage was at 14-10 for the Ruaraka-based Blazers and at 15-12 before Mulinge called for moment with his charges. Blazers led 16-13 at the second TTO. 

Things went downhill for Mulinge's charges from there on as Blazers bagged point after another with little response from the dockers for the second set to end 25-20 in favour of the debutants. 

The third set was closely fought in the initial stages with Blazers gifting the dockers on several occasions from poor service. Omondi's charges remained ahead, albeit by a point and KPA were playing catch-up. 

Blazers led 8-7 at the first TTO and the difference was up to two at 9-7 but David Thuita pulled one back for 9-8, the one-point difference proving hard for Blazers to breach allowing KPA to level the score at 12 and go ahead at 13-12. The scores were tied at 14 and again at 15 as Blazers led 16-15 at the second TTO. 

Thuita proved quite the asset for Mulinge's side rallying them to a 21-19 lead for a glimmer of hope at winning the set which they did in a dramatic 25-23 finish. 

There was little difference to the see-saw that was the order of day in the other sets as dockers led by a single point after assuming lead at three points and taking the first TTO at 8-6. 

The two point advantage remained for the ensuing minutes with KPA's extending it to three at 15-12 before taking the second TTO at 16-12 and up to five at 17-12 forcing Blazers into a timeout. 

The pep-talk did little to change the trajectory for Blazers as they continued soaking in the points to trail 24-17 as Elijah Bosire's service, slightly delayed by the net hit Blazers' side of the court uninterrupted for 25-17 and a decider fifth set. 

A tense fifth set had KPA quickly trailing 3-1 but KPA tied the score at four points. Mulinge's charges went on to lead 7-5 and Omondi needed time with his charges to make amends. 

Their strategy worked as they tied the score at seven but KPA got to eight points first ti head to the changeover leading 8-7. KPA extended their advantage to three points at 11-8 as, Blazers, now rattled had to make changes bringing in the industrious Stanley Mutua for David Neeke. 

However, the changes could not stop the determined dockers who led 13-10, 14-10, 14-11 and 15-11 for the crucial victory.