NAIROBI, Kenya, March 14 – National women’s volleyball defending champions Kenya Pipeline will be thirsting for more wins when they welcome newcomers Nairobi Water in the second leg of the 2023 season this Saturday at Nyayo Stadium indoor gymnasium.
The Oilers began their campaign a fortnight ago on a fiery note, dismissing Nairobi Prisons in straight sets before overcoming Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) 3-1, a day later to wrap up an unblemished weekend.
They come into the match as huge favourites against a side whose last trip to Nyayo Stadium yielded no fruit after two straight set losses to DCI and last season’s defending champions, Kenya Prisons.
After quenching their thirst against Nairobi Water, coach Paul Gitau’s charges will lock horns with Kenya Army on Sunday.
The military side are yet to play their first league match following their no-show against Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) in the first leg.
The Africa Club Championships bronze medalists will not be breathing easy though considering that Kenya Prisons as well as last season’s losing semi-finalists, KCB, also won their respective matches in the first leg and will be keen to intensify the pressure on them this weekend.
KCB clinched a straight-sets win of 25-14, 25-20 and 25-18 over Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and will be angling for another unbeaten weekend when they come up against Vihiga before a crunch fixture against Kenya Prisons.
The last meeting between the two sides was in December last year when the African champions triumphed 3-2 against the wardresses in the playoffs to set a date against Pipeline in the final.
Coach Josp Baraza’s charges are however, not to be discounted as evidenced by the immediate former national champions’ wins over Vihiga and Nairobi Water in the first leg.
Meanwhile, newcomers Postbank will be hoping for improved fortunes as they square off against Kenya Prisons and Nairobi Water on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The bankers lost their first match of the season in straight sets to KDF before recovering to beat Vihiga 3-1.
SATURDAY 18TH MAR 2023
- 09:00HRS : KENYA PIPELINE VS NAIROBI WATER
- 10:30HRS : KENYA ARMY VS DCI
- 12:00HRS: KENYA PRISONS VS POST BANK
- 13:30HRS. VIHIGA VS KCB
- 15:00HRS :KDF VS NAIROBI PRISONS
SUNDAY 19TH MAR 2023
- NAIROBI WATER VS POST BANK
- 10:30HRS: KENYA PIPELINE VS KENYA ARMY
- 2:00HRS. NAIROBI PRISONS VS VIHIGA
- 13:30HRS: DCI VS KDF
- 15:00HRS: KCB VS KENYA PRISONS
