Near-perfect Pipeline scorch El Shams in Cairo

Kenya Pipeline made the best possible start at the Women's Africa Club Championship on Tuesday night after trouncing hosts El Shams in straight sets of 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 in a thrilling contest at the Ahly Hall in Cairo, Egypt.

Seeking his first ever continental title, Pipeline coach Japheth Munala started the game with his best available squad, consisting setter Janet Wanja, Monica Biama, Noel Murambi, Leonida Kasaya, captain Triza Atuka and libero Agrippina Kundu.

This squad however had to overcome a slow start in the opening set, having trailed at the first and second technical time out, before rallying to win that particular encounter with two points.

Having overcome what arguably is their biggest opponent in their pool which also has also FAP (Cameroon), DGSP (Congo) and Vision Club (Uganda), Pipeline will return to the courts to face the Ugandans in their next assignment on Thursday morning.

Kenya Prisons, who are the country's other representatives in this annual continental championship, will - at the same time - take to the courts on Wednesday night to face Nigeria Customs.

"They are a strong team who played very well in their opening win over the Cameroon side. But we are confident," Prisons coach David Lung'aho explained.

In other selected results from day one of action, Ivorian side Asec Mimoas defeated Burkina Faso's Douanes 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21), hosts and record holders Al Ahly toppled Uganda's Nkumba University in straight sets of 25-7, 25-12, 25-16 while Nigeria Customs rebounded back from a set behind to secure a valuable victory over experienced INJS of Cameroon 3-1(23-23,25-23,25-24,25-21).