The Nyayo Indoor Arena came alive on Thursday as the second edition of the Kenya Cup Volleyball Tournament served off, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) women’s team delivering a statement of intent.

The “Sleuths” dominated Nairobi Prisons in a clinical straight-sets victory (25-14, 25-7, 25-19), proving that their recent silver-medal success in Eldoret was no fluke.

The highlight of the opening day was the masterful performance of Caroline Jeruto, whose dominance on the court earned her the Player of the Match honors.

From the opening whistle, DCI dictated the tempo, leaving the warders struggling to find an answer to their aggressive frontline.

The second set was particularly lopsided, with the detectives restricting Nairobi Prisons to just seven points in a display of defensive and offensive synergy.

Coach Patrick Sang, sensing total control of the match, used the opportunity to rotate his roster. The introduction of Jeruto proved to be the turning point that turned a win into a spectacle.

Her seamless connection with setter Jane Mumbua dismantled the Nairobi Prisons’ block, providing the crowd with a display of high-octane volleyball.

Following the match, DCI’s Staffing Officer Personnel I, Muriuki Raaria, addressed the jubilant squad. While praising their discipline, he reminded the players that the journey has just begun.

“Congratulations on this emphatic win. However, we must remain focused and committed. The mission shifts immediately to our next challenge,” Raaria told the team.

The road ahead gets steepy and slippery for the detectives.

They are scheduled to face off against giants Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) on Saturday in a Group B clash that many are already billing as a potential preview of the tournament final.