Pipeline reach CAVB Championships quarters in Cairo

Six-time African champions Kenya Pipeline sailed through to the quarter finals of the ongoing Women Championship in Cairo, Egypt as compatriots Kenya Prisons and KCB failed to sparkle in their respective penultimate preliminary matches.

Pipeline thrashed Shooting of Egypt by straight sets of 25-15,25-17 and 25-21 to storm to the last eight with a game to spare, leading Pool C on six points with  higher sets ratio advantage against their Wednesday’s opponent FAP of Cameroon who also has six points.

The 2018 bronze medallists who are eyeing the seventh continental title this year must defeat the latter to finish as group winners.

At the same, Prisons’ and KCB’s quarter finals dreams were dented after losing against GSP of Algeria and Sporting of Egypt respectively by identical sets of 3-1 in their penultimate preliminary matches.

Prisons went down against the 2014 champions by sets of 15-25, 25-14, 23-25 and 22-25 while the bankers were thrashed by the resilient Egyptians with sets of 25-19, 23-25, 25-20 and 25-23.

On Wednesday, the two Kenyan teams must win their final matches to sail through; Prisons will be up against 2017 silver medallists El Shams of Egypt while the Japheth Munala coached KCB must thump 2018 champions Carthage from Tunisia.

Prisons also suffered a major blow after ever-green left attacker Everlyne Makuto suffered a cruciate ligament injury thus missing Wednesday’s crucial tie against the Egyptians.

Meanwhile, off the court problems to the Kenyan Volleyball Federation (KVF) champions could continue after reports emerged on Tuesday that the latter’s contigent could be kicked out of their hotel by Wednesday due to delay in processing and sending accommodation fees.

Cash-strapped Prisons were on verge of pulling out of the championship owing to a lack of funds and after the Ministry of Interior came at handy in the eleventh hour to bail out the Wardens they flew out in the same day the championship was serving off.

The annual competition which has attracted 17 teams from across the continent will serve out on March 25.