By Rebecca Magoma
Prisons booked a semi-final slot in the ongoing Women’s African Club Championship 3-2 (13-25 28-26,25-19,23-25,15-13) in a five-set thriller fixture on Thursday in Monastir, Tunisia.
The two sides took their rivalry a notch higher in the continental showpiece where five continental champions Prisons found the better Pipeline in an all-Kenyan affair quarter-final match.
Prisons started the match on wrong footing going down 13-25 in the first set but recovered to take the second set 28-26 and went on take the third set 25-19.
Prisons failed to hold onto the lead as their opponents, Pipeline rallied to take the fourth set 25-23.
Pipeline reorganized in the fifth set but it was late as Prisons sealed the win.
The last time the two sides met was in November last year during the Kenya Volleyball Federation national playoffs in Mombasa where Pipeline emerged the winners to retain to lift their third consecutive local title.
To the quarter-finals, Prisons defeated the University of Zimbabwe in straight sets to finish second in Pool B which was won by record champions Al Ahly of Egypt who has won the continental title eight times.
Kenya Pipeline who was seeking their 8th title the other hand finished top of Pool C unbeaten to book a slot in the quarters.
This was the repeat of the 2013 quarter finals in Madagascar where Prisons overwhelmed Pipeline 3-1.The Warders went on to win their fifth title.
Prisons will have to wait for their opponents in the semi-finals.
