Former Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Men’s National League Champions (GSU) showed that they mean business by bagging maximum points as the first edition of the Kenya Cup got underway at the weekend.
The paramilitary side which is looking to salvage its dimming glory ruled the Kasarani Indoor Arena to register impressive wins against Equity Bank and Kenya Army in Group A.
GSU who are the only unbeaten side in the 2024-2025 league season put up a spirited fight to beat Equity 3-1 and thereafter extend their good run against Kenya Army in straight sets of 25-16, 25-16 and 25-20.
While they easily dismissed the soldiers, GSU had to work harder for victory against the bankers who came into the game on the back of winning the Kipchumba Karori Eldoret International Tournament gong.
The two sides engaged in a neck-to-neck battle in the first set but it was the GSU officers who snatched it 28-26. The second, third and fourth sets were no different with Equity staging a relentless fight.
Determined to secure victory, GSU would take the second set 25-23 for a 2-0 lead. However, the bankers refused to go down without a proper fight grabbing the third set 26-24 to make it 2-1.
GSU returned stronger in the fourth set to take it 25-22 and bag all the points. They top Group A with six points while Administration Police of Kenya (APK) who beat Kenya Army 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-23) in their opening match but lost 1-3 (25-17, 14-25, 14-25, 20-25) to Equity Bank are tied on three points with the bankers.
Kenya Army are winless in the pool while Kenya Ports Authority were not in action at the weekend.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) who won their encounters against Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU) and reigning National League champions Kenya Prisons top Group B with six points.
The soldiers stunned the wardens to chalk their second win and remain on course to sealing a quarterfinals slot.
They showed their intend to win the match by easily taking the first set 25-14. Nonetheless, Prisons would delay their victory by leveling matters 1-1 after recovering to win the second set 25-23, KDF would take the third set 25-16, they fought tooth and nail to grab the fourth 28-26.
KAPU were twice unlucky as they lost their second match to Trailblazers who only played one match following the postponement of their clash against Chema Volleyball Club.
Trailblazers have three points from the 3-1(25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 25-13) win against KAPU.
Kenya Prisons and KAPU failed to secure points. Even so, all is not lost for all the teams for they are still in the race for title. Top four sides in each pool will advance to the knockouts.
