KAPU upset the form book to gun down KPA in five-set thriller

Volleyball and Handball
By Elizabeth Mburugu | Mar 01, 2025
Derick Sululu (L) of Kenya Army strikes against Enock Barasa (10) and Kennedy Mugo (3) of Equity Bank during their Kenya Volleyball Federation match at Nyayo National Stadium Basketball Court on March 01, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU) came from two sets down to beat Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 3-2 in one of the major upsets of the 2024-2025 season of the Kenya Volleyball Federation Men's National League.

KAPU who are looking to finish in the top eight and secure a play-offs slot put up a spirited fight to stage a comeback and snatch two points from the dockers who have been in superb form.

Having lost the first and second sets 25-17 and 25-21 and knowing to well that KPA were one set away from victory, KAPU refused to give up and decided to fight back.

Their resilience would see them battle to win the third set 28-26 and in turn igniting their fighting spirit. Just like the third set, the fourth was no easy but they fought off KPA who were now hoping for a 3-1 as the dockers even had a lead and were serving for the match.

Even so, KAPU who had hunger for victory written all over their faces did not relent holding the nerve to grab the set 29-27 to set the stage for a decisive fifth.

Having come from two sets to level matters 2-2, there was no looking back for KAPU as they battle KPA who seemed to have lost the will to fight especially after being so close to winning.

Inspired by their impressive recovery, KAPU dominated to win the fifth set 15-9 and carry the day.

KAPU will look to build on that triumph today when they take on Trailblazers while KPA face a daunting task against former champions the General Service Unit who will be out to maintain their perfect run.

In another encounter, Rift Valley Prisons beat National Youth Service (NYS) 3-1(24-26, 25-17, 25-20, 9-25) whereas Prisons Nairobi dismissed Western Prisons in straight sets of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-18.

NYS will play Kenya Defence Forces while Rift Valley Prisons will take on their Western counterparts.

Defending champions Kenya Prisons will face off with Equity Bank on the last day of the fourth leg. Four matches will be played at Nyayo volleyball court while four have been moved from the Nyayo Gymnasium to the Kasarani Indoor arena to pave way for the basketball league.

Meanwhile, Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB) Zone V Women's Club Championship women defending champions Kenya Pipeline completed their Group A matches with a 3-1(25-16, 25-12, 23-25, 25-11) victory against home girls KCB-Nkumba in Kampala, Uganda.

The victory saw Pipeline top the pool with nine points while Nkumba were second with five. Another Ugandan side Ndejje University Elites who beat Tanzania Prisons 3-1(19-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-13) finished third with three points while the Tanzanian warders were last with no point.

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