Pipeline crush Sfaxien, Prisons fall to Carthage

National champions, Kenya Pipeline are through to the semi finals of the African Women Volleyball Club Championship after crushing home-side Sfaxien 3-1 while chief domestic rivals, Kenya Prisons had their dreams crushed by Carthage by a similar scoreline in Tunis, Tunisia.

Pipeline booked their date in the last four by racing through the opening two sets 25-15 and 25-14 before Sfaxien forced a fourth when they took the next one 15-25.

The Kenyans then prevailed 25-17 to punch their ticket from the second quarterfinal clash of the day.

Hosts Carthage then buried Prisons’ dreams of clinching a sixth crown when they vanquished the Kenyans 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 25-27, 25-18) on Thursday night.

Carthage, who topped pool ‘A’ of the competition proved too mighty for the David Lung’aho-led side, ruling out the possibility of an all-Kenyan final.

It was an ignominious end to the Prisons career of Lung’aho who has indicated he will step down from his post after the tournament.

In another last eight clash, Rwanda’s Revenue Authority who finished second behind Carthage in the group stages made history by qualifying for the semis for the first time ever, beating Egyptian outfit El Shams who were yet to lose a single match in the competition 3-1 (25-21, 10-25, 29-27, 6-2).

Revenue Coach, Paul Bitok, said he was impressed with the results saying it was another advantage after his beach volleyball team finished second during the Olympics qualifiers a week ago.

“I would like to congratulate my team for their historic performance today. We are now looking forward to the next stage,” Bitok said.

Revenue will meet defending champions Ahly of Egypt while Pipeline will play home-side Carthage in the semis.

The Rwandese are hopeful that they’ll beat their Egypt’s opponent in Friday’s last four.

Bitok said said even though Egypt is too strong for Rwanda, he believes that the achievements he has registered since he began coaching Rwanda’s volleyball teams will be seen soon across the continent.

“I believe in the next few years, we shall be first in Africa. We finished second two weeks ago in beach volleyball and now in semis in Tunisia. Beach volleyball qualified for world FIVB qualifications to be in Russia,” he added.