International women’s volleyball: Rivers leads Stuttgart; big week for Skinner

This is our weekly update on USA women playing professional volleyball around the world. Most of the players are former NCAA standouts:

Champions League

In the only upset of the quarterfinal round, Krystal Rivers had 22 kills and a block as Stuttgart beat Turkish giants Fenerbahce in five sets. Alexis Hart chipped in two kills as a substitute.

Conegliano, playing its third match in four days, beat VakifBank in four sets to open the quarterfinal series. Kelsey Robinson Cook and Kathryn Plummer had had 12 kills and two blocks each. Ali Frantti had eight kills for VakifBank, while Jordan Thompson added eight. Chiaka Ogbogu had a team-high four blocks and two kills.

Visiting Milano, also playing its third match in four days, beat LKS Lodz in four as Dana Rettke led with nine kills (hitting .438) and seven blocks. Kara Bajema contributed two kills and a block.

CEV Cup

Madeline Haynes and Tia Scambray led all scorers with 23 points each an NUC Viteos is one match away from its first European Cup final by beating Budowlani Lodz in four sets. Haynes had 18 kills, three blocks and two aces, while Scambray had 21 kills and two aces. Tessa Grubbs added 13 kills and two blocks. Jasmine Gross had seven kills, two blocks and two aces. Mac May had eight kills, three aces, and one block for Budowlani Lodz.

In league play, May’s Budowlani Lodz (12-8) was swept by Chemik Police (18-2). She was a substitute and had four kills.

Avery Skinner had 23 kills (.396), an ace and a block as Chieri needed five sets to beat Paris SC in their first semifinal match. Madi Kingdon Rushel added four kills and three blocks. Paris’ Emily Thater had four blocks and three kills.

Challenge Cup

Nantes was swept by Novara in the first leg of the final series. Taylor Mims led Nantes with 12 kills, two blocks and an ace and Jaelyn Keene had five kills and two aces. Newly transferred Russian Marina Markova (who played at Florida) led Novara with 13 kills and four aces.

Italy

Scandicci (17-4) won its third in a row by sweeping Cuneo (5-16) as Lindsey Ruddins had nine kills (.400) and block and  Haleigh Washington had six kills and one block. Madi Kubik had six kills and one ace for Cuneo, while Anna Stevenson-Hall had two kills and a block.

Casalmaggiore’s (7-14) four-match winning streak was snapped by  Roma (10-11) despite 23 kills and two blocks from Simone Lee. Setter Micha Hancock had a block and one ace. Courtney Schwan had three kills for Roma.

Chieri (12-9) came back from a 22-14 first-set deficit and beat Trentino (2-19) in four and Skinner led all players again, this time with 27 kills. Kingdon had two kills and an ace and arly DeHoog, also a substitute, had two kills.

Conegliano (21-0) swept Bergamo (4-17) as Khalia Lanier had nine kills, a block and one ace and setter Madi Bugg added a kill and one ace.

Busto Arsizio (6-15) beat Firenze (9-12) in four as Skylar Fields had five kills. Kendall Kipp had 11 kills, two aces and a block for Firenze.

Milano (18-3) needed five sets to escape Pinerolo (10-11). Bajema had 11 kills, three blocks and one ace for Milano. Rettke did not play.

Türkiye

VakifBank (20-1) overcame THY (15-7) in a close four-set encounter. Thompson had 11 kills, one block and an ace and Frantti added two kills and a block.

Kuzeyboru (14-8) won its fourth in a row by beating Galatasaray (10-12) in five as Sarah Parsons led with 18 kills, three blocks and two aces. Logan Eggleston led Galatasaray with 19 kills and a block. Danielle Cuttino added eight kills and a block.

Muratpasa (10-12) lost a close sweep to Eczacibasi (20-1) despite Micaya White getting 19 kills, a block and an ace. Stephanie Samedy added 11 kills.

Aydin (6-16) could not convert match-point opportunities and fell in a reverse sweep to Nilufer (10-11). Aydin setter Lauren Carlini had a kill and a block.

Japan

McKenzie Adams had 19 kills but Hisamitsu Springs fell in the quarterfinals of the VLeague playoffs, upset by Toyota Autobody Queenseis in five sets.

Annie Drews also had 19 kills as JT Marvelous moved into the final after defeating Ageo in four sets. They’ll play the other Drews, Dani, who had 10 kills as NEC Red Rockets swept Queenseis.

Brazil

Osasco (14-3) won its ninth in a row, beating Fluminense in four sets. Callie Schwarzenbach had 10 kills (.563) and two blocks and Brionne Butler added seven kills (.500), two blocks and an ace.

Setter Jenna Gray, who had a kill, and Minas (12-5) beat Bauru (9-8) in four sets.

SESC RJ (16-1) maintained its league lead by sweeping Sao Caetano (0-17). Roni Jones-Perry had six kills, three aces and a block.

Germany

Potsdam earned its first win of the second phase by upsetting Schwerin in five sets. Danielle Harbin had 11 kills and three blocks and Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with 50% positive reception.

Grace Frohling returned from injury and had 17 kills, a block and an ace as Dresdner defeated Stuttgart in five sets. Tia Jimerson had six kills, five blocks, and two aces. Stuttgart’s Alexis Hart had 15 kills, but Rivers did not play.

Gabby Goddard’s near-perfect day helped Aachen sweep Vilsbiburg in Group B. Goddard finished with 12 kills (.800) and five blocks.

Munster also earned a sweep in Group B as Gloria Mutiri had 15 kills against Wiesbaden. Setter Jenna Ewert added three blocks, two kills and two aces. Rachel Anderson had three kills for Wiesbaden, while Jaidyn Blachfield had two kills and one ace.

France

Nantes (17-2) faced little opposition from Quimper (2-18). Mims led again with 11 kills. Keene added six kills and two blocks.

Cannes (7-14) fell to TFOC (13-8) in four sets. Madelyn Robinson had four kills for Cannes, while Leah Meyer had three.

Beziers (12-8) lost its third in a row, beaten by defending champions Volero Le Cannet (13-7). Claire Hoffman led Beziers with 12 kills, two blocks and two aces. Taylor Fricano had nine kills and six blocks. Serena Gray had six kills, three blocks and one ace. Ella May Powell did not play.

Mulhouse (15-5) ended the week with an upset of rival Paris SC (16-5). Carli Snyder led with 14 kills and a block. Annayka Legros followed with nine kills, three aces and two blocks. Jaali Winters added seven kills. Thater had seven kills, two blocks and two aces for Paris.

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