International volleyball: Plummer leads Conegliano; Dani Drews wins in Japan; Mims stays hot for Nantes

 

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

Champions League

Kathryn Plummer had 12 kills, two blocks and two aces for Imoco Conegliano was named MVP as her team advanced to the semifinals by defeating VakifBank in four sets. 

Kelsey Robinson Cook added nine kills, two blocks and two aces.

Jordan Thompson had nine kills for VakifBank, Ali Frantti added six kills and a block, and Chiaka Ogbogu had six kills and three blocks.

Milano advanced to the semifinals for the first time in club history by sweeping LKS Lodz. Kara Bajema had seven kills, two aces and a block for Milano and Dana Rettke came on as a sub and had three kills on four swings.

Scandicci lost in five to Eczacibasi. Scandicci’s Haleigh Washington had nine kills, five blocks and three aces and Lindsey Ruddins had a block.

Stuttgart’s Cinderella run fell short when eliminated by Fenerbahce in four sets. Krystal Rivers led Stuttgart with 16 kills. Subs Kayla Haneline had three kills and two blocks and Alexis Hart had four kills.

CEV Cup

NUC Viteos became the first team to advance to a European Cup final after they won a golden set, 15-13, against Budowlani Lodz. NUC will play Chieri, which swept Paris AC.

Lodz won the initial match in four sets to force a golden set. NUC’s Madeline Haynes led all scorers with 21 kills and an ace. Tia Scambray added 20 kills and a block, Tessa Grubbs contributed 16 kills and three blocks and  Jasmine Gross had four kills and three blocks. 

Mac May led Lodz with 15 kills and four blocks. Coach Lauren Bertolacci of Australia will be the first female head coach since 2008 in a European final. She is assisted by former USC staffer Haley Brightwell.

Chieri’s Avery Skinner had 10 kills and three aces, Madi Kingdon appeared as a sub and had seven kills. Emily Thater of Paris had three kills, three blocks and an ace.

CEV Challenge Cup

Taylor Mims had 18 kills, a block and an ace, but Nantes lost to Novara in the final. Jaelyn Keene, named Best Server, had five kills and an ace.

Japan

Dani Drews had 22 kills as the NEC Red Rockets claimed the Japanese league title by upsetting previously undefeated JT Marvelous in four sets. Annie Drews of JT Marvelous led all players with 26 kills, a block and an ace for JT Marvelous. Annie Drews was named best opposite and best server of the league.

Italy

Conegliano (22-0) overcame a slow start but beat Casalmaggiore (7-15) in four sets as Khalia Lanier had 15 kills and a block. Simone Lee led Casalmaggiore with 17 kills, a block and an ace and setter Micha Hancock had a kill and one ace.

Rettke provided a key fifth-set service run as Milano (18-3) held off Roma (10-12). Rettke finished with 11 kills (.688), three aces and two blocks. Kara Bajema added two blocks and a kill.

Skinner’s 19 points were not enough as Chieri (12-10) fell to Scandicci (18-4) in four sets. Skinner had 16 kills, two blocks and an ace. Sub Madi Kingdon added one kill and an ace and Lindsey Ruddins came off the bench to have four kills.

Firenze’s (9-13) struggles continued against Novara (18-4), its fourth consecutive loss. Kendall Kipp was the top scorer in the match with 18 kills and two blocks for Firenze.

Cuneo (6-16) finally reentered the win column by beating Busto Arsizio (6-16) in four sets as Madi Kubik had 13 kills and one ace. Skylar Fields had seven kills and a block for Busto Arsizio.

Türkiye

Kuzeyboru (15-8) won its fifth in a row by sweeping Muratpasa (10-13). Sarah Parsons led with19 kills and an ace. Micaya White had 14 kills and two aces for Muratpasa, while Stephanie Samedy contributed 11 kills and an ace.

Logan Eggleston had 23 kills as Galatasaray (11-12) overpowered Karayollari (1-22) in straight sets. Danielle Cuttino added a kill.

 

Aydin (7-16) earned a key win in its bid to avoid relegation by beating Sariyer (5-18). Setter Lauren Carlini had four blocks and a kill.

In a battle of top teams, Vakifbank (20-2) lost to Fenerbahce (21-1). Chiaka Ogbogu had eight kills and two blocks for VakifBank. Thompson finished with six kills and an ace, while Frantti had three kills as a substitute.

Germany

Stuttgart completely overpowered Potsdam (25-15, 25-19, 25-14) in the final of the German Cup. Krystal Rivers was named MVP as she had 22 kills (.700), two blocks, and an ace in a stunning performance. Danielle Harbin led Potsdam with nine kills and an ace. Breland Morrissette had three kills and two blocks. Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with 83% positive reception.

France

Taylor Mims continues to lead the way and Nantes (18-2) is one step closer to securing the top seed in the playoffs after beating Mulhouse (15-6) in four sets. Mims led with 19 kills, three aces and two blocks. Jaelyn Keene had a match-high five aces to go along with seven kills and two blocks. Annayka Legros led Mulhouse with11 kills (.500), three blocks and an ace Carli Snyder had 10 kills and an ace, while Jaali Winters had eight kills and an ace.

Chamalieres (8-12) quickly swept France 2024 (0-20) as Sabrina Starks had four kills and a match-high four blocks. Setter Maggie Speaks added two kills, two blocks and two aces and Hannah Clayton chipped in five kills.

Claire Hoffman had 10 kills (.588), three aces and a block as Beziers (13-8) quickly routed a short-handed Cannes (7-15). Serena Gray added four blocks and a block. Leah Meyer had five kills and a block for Cannes. Madelyn Robinson filled in at libero, finishing with 38% positive reception.

Paris SC (17-5) bounced back from last week’s defeat by sweeping Quimper (2-19) as Thater had eight kills (.800) and two blocks.

Haylie Bennet was named MVP after having 22 kills, three block and an ace as Nancy (16-5) earned its fourth win in a row, beating Marcq en Baroeul in a captivating five-set match. Breanna Runnels had 12 kills, one block, and one ace and Shayla Hoeft contributed eight kills, four blocks and an ace. Nancy setter Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres had three blocks, two kills and an ace. Tristin Savage had six kills and three blocks for Marcq en Baroeul.

Brazil

Minas, which includes Jenna Gray and Annie Mitchem, lost in five to rival Praia Clube in the Brazilian Cup final.

Then in league play, Gray earned MVP honors as Minas (13-5) beat Fluminense (9-9).

Osasco (15-3) upset SESC RJ (16-2) in five as Brionne Butler had nine kills and a match-high five blocks. Callie Schwarzenbach added five kills, three blocks and one ace. SESC RJ’s Roni Jones-Perry led all scorers with 21 kills, two aces and a block.

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