January 21, 2025

Mixed bag for KPA as KCB secure round of 16 place

Mixed bag for KPA as KCB secure round of 16 place
KPA in action a the Africa Volleyball Club Championships

After losing the first set 23-25, KPA fought back with a dominant performance to win the next three sets 25-16, 25-21, and 25-19.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) men's league silver medalist Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), are eyeing a podium finish at the ongoing CAVB Club Championships in Tunisia. 

The Sammy Mulinge-led side got their campaign off to a thrilling start as they secured a 3-1 win over Cameroon's CSV in their opening match.

After losing the first set 23-25, KPA fought back with a dominant performance to win the next three sets 25-16, 25-21, and 25-19. 

The win put the dockers in a great position going forward in the tournament as it gave them a positive start despite the tricky pool they are in. 

However, in the second match against JOA of Algeria, Mulinge's charges threw away a two-set lead to lose the game 3-2. The Kenyans had picked a 25-23 and 31-29 advantage before the slip. 

The Algerians forced themselves back into the match with 26-24 and leveled matters with a dominant 25-14 in the fourth set. Mulinge's men had no reply for the higly charged opponents who closed off the match 15-10 for two points as KPA settled for one. 

 

Meanwhile in the women’s matches going on in the same country, holders KCB got their title defense off to a good start, winning their opening two matches to book a place in the round of 16 with a match in the group stage to spare. 

First victory was against Cameroon's Nyong in a dominant show. In the first set of the match against Nyong, the Japheth Munala-led side went 25-7 in the opening paces to send their statement of intent as they won the other two sets 25-20 and 25-16 for a straight-sets victory. 

In their second match of Pool B they beat National Alcohol of Ethiopia in another straight-sets victory in 25-20, 25-12, 25-9.

At the same time in Tunis, KVF women's league champions Kenya Pipeline remain undefeated, having picked a 3-1 victory against Chief of Naval of Nigeria. 

The Paul Gitau-led oil merchants led 25-15 before allowing the Nigerians to level the sets at 25-21. 

This snapped them back to action for a dominant 25-13 in the third set to reclaim the lead. They had to fight tooth and nail against a stubborn Nigerian side that were angling for some points with a decider set but Pipeline shut them down 27-25 for 3-1.