Kenya Pipeline’s bid to defend their Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone V Clubs Championship title ended in disappointment after they fell 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 24-26, 23-25) to Rwanda Patriotic Army (APR) in the final at Lugogo Indoor Arena, Kampala, Uganda.
The 2023 champions entered the final as strong favorites, having dropped only one set throughout the tournament.
However, APR signaled their intent early, taking the first set 25-20. Pipeline responded by winning the second set convincingly, but they squandered a four-point lead in the third, eventually losing 24-26.
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Buoyed by their comeback, APR sealed the victory in the fourth set (23-25), overcoming Pipeline’s late resistance. With this win, APR became the first Rwandese side to defeat Pipeline in the competition.
Despite the loss, Pipeline found some consolation, with Leonida Kasaya named Best Outside Hitter and Loice Simiyu earning the Best Server award.
Simiyu reflected on her achievement: “I emerged the best server in the CAVB ZONE V Volleyball Championship 2025 in Uganda, which made me very proud.
“The tournament was lively and full of sports spirit, offering a great chance to show talent and hard work in volleyball. My success came from focusing on improving my serving technique.”
Coach Geoffrey Omondi’s squad now shift focus back to domestic league duties.
Meanwhile, APR completed a double victory, clinching the men’s title as well after defeating holders Rwanda Police Volleyball Club 3-1 (24-26, 25-19, 18-25, 21-25) in the final.
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