Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has confirmed that the first round of the 2021/22  national league will start on November 26 – 28.

In a meeting held on Saturday in Nairobi between a section of KVF executive committee members led by deputy president CBD Nyaberi and team managers, the group adopted a 16-team league for men and 10 for women.

According to the KVF calendar, the new league schedule will be a five-legged round of play starting with the first leg on November 26-28.

This  is meant to align with the FIVB international calendar with the national league and is set to conclude on June 20-22, 2022, with the fifth and final round leg of the season.

Three newcomers

The conclusion of the regular season will then pave the way for the national league play-offs on between June 24-26, 2022, in a venue to be decided later.

This is expected to give the national teams ample time to prepare for international assignments.

Newcomers Prisons Central, Trail Blazers, and Prisons Nyanza joined the elite league, adding to the 13 teams that took part in the men’s national league last season,while in the women’s national league, Ashton makes a comeback after missing out last season. 

From two rounds of fixtures released, reigning champions General Service Unit (GSU) and women’s three-time back-to-back champions Prisons women will begin their title defense against Kenya Army and Nairobi Prisons respectively in the first round of matches.

In the second round, GSU will face newcomers Prisons Central while the women’s league holders will be taking on this year’s title hopefuls KCB women, newcomers Prison Nyanza host KDF men, and Vihiga County entertain visiting Prison Mombasa.

Prison Rift lock horns with Prison Nairobi in a derby, Kenya Forest Service welcome Trail Blazers as Kenya Army, AP and Kenya Ports Authority travel to take on hosts Prison Western, Prison Kenya, and Equity Bank respectively.