KPA beat KAPU to seal round of 16 spot on final day of pool play

After conceding the second set in a rare lapse, the Dockers quickly regained their rhythm, using sharp serving and sturdy blocking to take the next two sets and close out a valuable victory on the last day of preliminary matches.

Speaking after the contest, KPA head coach James Ontere pointed to the bigger picture beyond the Kenya Cup.

“With the league coming up soon, this win has boosted the players’ morale. They are now better prepared and more motivated to fight for the league title, which is our main priority. While this is the Kenya Cup, the league remains more important,” he explained.

The result reinforces KPA’s status as a serious contender while giving them valuable momentum heading into the national league season.

For KAPU, the defeat marked their second of the group phase, but head coach Luke Makuto struck a defiant tone, insisting the loss would not derail their knockout ambitions.

“We are not affected by this defeat because we are still learning. We have already qualified for the round of 16, and that is where the real volleyball begins. Let everyone be ready to face the Kenya Airport Police Unit in the round-of-16 match,” Makuto declared.

Despite losing both pool matches, KAPU advanced to the knockout stages alongside the rest of the field, as the preliminary matches were used to determine seeding rather than eliminate teams.

Earlier on day 4, the National Youth Service (NYS) delivered a composed performance, defeating Kenya Navy in straight sets 25–23, 25–22, 25–19, to cap off an eventful final day of group-stage action.