KCB Women’s Volleyball Club coach Japheth Munala hailed a change of strategy as key behind the team’s remarkable success against Kenya Prisons in the first semifinal of the Kenya Cup tie staged on Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Nairobi.

Speaking after emerging as the best side in a five-set thriller at the Kasarani Indoor Arena, Munala hailed her charges for perfectly executing Prison’s downfall.

Changes

“Prisons came in strongly in the first two sets, but we showed our resilience. We made a few changes, altering the players who play in the front with those at the back, and it worked well for us. Esther Mutinda came in well and had a good game. Most of our players liked how she sets up, and it helped us,” the trainer opined.

On her part, KCB captain Edith Wisaa Mukivilani termed conquering their ball reception challenges as crucial in the win.

“We started slowly but came back stronger and got the last three sets. When we managed to receive the ball, we put everything on track. Reception was a challenge in the first two sets, but when we controlled it, we got the final three sets to clinch the tie,” she asserted.

A 3-2 thrilling win saw the Bankers women’s volleyball team earn a slot in the 2025 Kenya Cup finals after toppling the wardens in the tightly contested tie. 

Prisons started off the tie in remarkable fashion, going for the jugular early on to claim the first two sets on a 25-18 and 25-23 scoreline.

Fight back

Josp Barasa’s team was, however, pegged back after a startled Bankers team responded in the third set with an easy 25-18.

The team extended the victory to the fourth set with a 25-22 win to tie the game at 2-2 at the conclusion of the fourth set and set up a decisive fifth.

A spirited display in the decisive set saw Bankers complete the conquest, romping to a 15-4 win to seal the game.

Prize money

The loss capped another disappointing ending for the Prison Queens, who suffered yet another crushing defeat at the semifinal stage, following a similar setback at the same stage in the Kenyan National Volleyball League in May.

Bankers now await the final clash against rivals Kenya Pipeline, who downed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations women’s team in the other semifinal clash.

The inaugural competition winner will pocket Ksh300,000 in prize money, with runners-up earning Ksh200,000 for their efforts.