Holders GSU, Prisons begin KVF season on a high

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) defending champions General Service Unit (GSU) men and Kenya Prisons women got their 2021/22 season off to a good start as they picked wins in the season-opening Kapsabet leg on Friday. 

Coach Gideon Tarus' GSU, up against military side Kenya Army picked a straight sets victory in 25-21, 25-14 and 25-17 to get their title defence off to a flying start. The women's side were also on a roll as they dispensed their sister side Nairobi Prisons 3-0 (19- 25, 17-25, 20-25). 

In a second match against Central Prisons the paramilitary side's hopes of making it two victories in one outing were cut short as rains disrupted an already poorly-attended leg that saw only four matches completed. 

Tarus, who has made one addition to the 2021 title-winning squad, bringing in left attacker Joshua Kimaru from Equity was full of praise for the youngster who made his debut for the holders against Kenya Army.

"We had a good match and Kimaru's display was impressive. He has lived to my expectations and played a pivotal role in our win against Army. He was also doing well in the second match before it was halted. The second match will have to be replayed at a later leg but this is a good start. We have 15 more matches to go before the playoffs but this win gives us momentum as the league begins," said Tarus. 

Meanwhile, Josp Barasa who has made three additions to his squad did not get to test them in their first league match but says the win is a good start. 

"We played against a team we know well, seeing as we train at the same venue so we cannot say we got a big test. That said, we are taking it one match at a time and as we know the competition gets stiffer as we proceed," said Barasa. 

In other matches, former champions Kenya Prisons men lost their first set of the season but still managed to pick maximum points against Nyanza Prisons in a 3-1 (25- 15, 25-16, 26-28 and 25-15) outcome. 

The other match of the day saw Kenya Forest Service (KFS) subject newbies Central Prisons to their first defeat in a 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-21) straight sets victory.