Pipeline launch title defence against sworn rivals Prisons

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) women’s league defending champions Kenya Pipeline will begin their title defence against bitter rivals Kenya Prisons when the domestic competition serves off in Bungoma County on March 23.

Pipeline paired Prisons in the opening league match of the first leg in a draw released on Wednesday by the federation, and this is the second year in a row the two heavyweights will be clashing in the opening day of the nine-team league.

Pipeline have won the title for four consecutive years and will be aiming to go a step further by bagging the crown for a fifth straight time, while hosts Bungoma County, DCI and Ashton — have all joined the expanded women league.

The defending champions eased past Kenya Prisons 3-0 in December last year in the national play-offs at the Makande Indoor Gymnasium, Mombasa to lift the women’s title for the fourth year with an unbeaten record.

The Japheth Munala led Pipeline alongside David Lung’aho’s Kenya Prisons will first participate in their continental assignment of the CAVB Women African Club Championship slated for March 6- 15 in Cairo, Egypt before the domestic league kicks off.

Meanwhile, the men league will serve off the same day at the same venue, with the 2017 champions General Service Unit (GSU) who reclaimed the title they lost to Prisons in the preceding year not participating in the opening leg of the fixtures — as they will be away alongside Kenya Prisons for the CAVB Men African Club Championship which serves off on March 26 –April 5 in Cairo, Egypt.

Newcomers Kericho County, Forest Rangers, Naks of Nakuru and Equity Bank will join the expanded 18-team league.

FIRST LEG KVF FIXTURES FRIDAY 23RD BUNGOMA

MEN

Kericho County Vs Cooperative Bank

Mount Kenya University Vs AP Kenya

Forest Rangers Vs Prisons Mombasa

Western Prisons Vs KDF

NAKS Vs Vihiga County

Bungoma County Vs Prisons Nairobi

KDF Vs NAKS

Prisons Mombasa Vs KPA

AP Kenya Vs Forest Rangers

Coop Bank Vs MKU

Equity Vs Vihiga

Coop Bank Vs KPA

Kericho County Vs Equity Bank

Western Prisons Vs Bungoma County

WOMEN

Kenya Prisons Vs Kenya Pipeline

Bungoma County Vs DCI

Western Bombers Vs Prisons Kenya

Kenya Pipeline Vs Ashton

MKU Vs KDF

DCI Vs KCB

Ashton Vs MKU

Bungoma County Vs Western Bombers