Robinson Cook, Plummer, Conegliano take Italian Cup; Gray, Minas win in S. America

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

Italy

Imoco Volley Conegliano won its fifth Italian Cup (Coppa Italia) in a row with a 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11 victory over Allianz Vero Volley Milano before a crowd of 6,700 in the Pala Trieste.

Kelsey Robinson Cook led the American contingent with 14 kills, Kathryn Plummer had 13 and Khalia Lanier was a serving sub as her team clinched the crown on her serve. Swede Isabelle Haak had 21 kills and two blocks.

Milano’s Dana Rettke finished had 12 kills and hit .688. Kara Bajema had a kill and two blocks.

Conegliano swept Chieri in the semifinals. Plummer had eight kills, three blocks and three aces. Robinson Cook had nine kills and a block. Chieri’s Avery Skinner was held to two kills and a block. Madi Kingdon Rushel had two kills.

Milano got to the final by beat Scandicci in five. Rettke had 10 kills (.588), three blocks and an ace for Milano and Bajema did not play.

In the Italian League, Casalmaggiore (7-13) earned its biggest win of the season and fourth in a row by beating Novara (16-4) in four sets. Simone Lee was Casalmaggiore’s second-top scorer with 18 kills and one block and setter Micha Hancock had a kill and an ace.

South America

Minas won the South American Club championship after pulling off against rival Praia Clube. Setter Jenna Gray was named MVP. Minas advanced by Brazilian rival SESI Bauru in four.

In Brazilian league play, SESC RJ (15-1) beat rival Fluminense in four sets as Roni Jones-Perry led with 14 kills, three aces and a block.

Türkiye

VakifBank advanced to the Turkish Cup semifinals by sweeping Cukurova as Jordan Thompson led with 14 kills (.429) and an ace. Ali Frantti added eight kills and two blocks and Chiaka Ogbogu did not play.

Kuzeyboru was eliminated after falling in four sets to THY. Sarah Parsons led Kuzeyboru with 14 kills and an ace.

VakifBank improved to 19-1 in the Turkish League by sweeping PTT (5-16) as Frantti had 10 kills (.533) and a block. Thompson had eight kills in two sets.

Galatasaray (10-11) was swept by Eczacibasi (19-1). Danielle Cuttino led Galatasaray with 16 kills and Logan Eggleston had nine kills, two blocks and two aces.

Kuzeyboru (13-8) bounced back by sweeping Besiktas (7-14). Parsons was the top scorer again with 13 kills, two blocks and two aces.

Stephanie Samedy had 30 kills and a block as Muratpasa (10-11) beat Aydin (6-15) in a very close five-set match. Micaya White had 19 kills, a block and an ace. Aydin setter Lauren Carlini had two kills, a block and an ace while setting..

Germany

Group A: Krystal Rivers had 16 kills, a block and an ace as Stuttgart earned its second win in Group A by sweeping Potsdam. Danielle Harbin came on as a substitute to lead Potsdam with 13 kills. Breland Morrissette added three kills. Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with 50% positive reception.

Dresdner needed five sets to escape Suhl as Tia Jimerson had nine kills, two blocks and two aces. Eleanor Holthaus had 15 kills and four blocks for Suhl and Julia Brown had 13 kills and an ace.

Group B: Wiesbaden needed five sets to beat Vilsbiburg. Rachel Anderson had eight kills, three blocks and two aces and Jaidyn Blanchfield had 12 kills.

Munster got its first win of the second stage by beating Aachen in four sets. Gloria Mutiri led with 13 kills. Setter Jenna Ewert had a match-high four kills to go along with four kills and a block while setting. Zoe Fleck was credited with 29% positive reception. Gabby Goddard led all players with seven blocks for Aachen and had eight kills.

Aachen then got its first win of the second stage by upsetting Wiesbaden in five sets. Goddard had eight kills, four blocks and an ace. Blanchfield led Wiesbaden with 15 kills, two blocks and an ace. Anderson had 14 kills and an ace.

Munster lost again, this time in five sets to Vilsbiburg. Mutiri had 17 kills and a block. Ewert added two kills and one ace and Fleck was credited with 36% positive reception.

France

Mulhouse advanced to the French Cup semifinals by sweeping Marcq en Baroeul. Annayka Legros had seven kills (.400) and four blocks and Jaali Winters had nine kills and a block. Marcq en Baroeul’s Tristin Savage had three kills, two aces and a block.

Jaelyn Keene was named MVP for Nantes as it swept Volero Le Cannet. Keene had six kills, three blocks and two aces. Taylor Mims of Nantes had 15 kills, one block and an ace.

In the French League, the struggles for Cannes (7-13) continued in a four-set loss to Venelles (7-13). Madelyn Robinson had 10 kills for Cannes.

Paris (16-4) fought off a surging Beziers (12-6) in four sets. Emily Thater was named MVP after getting nine kills, three aces and two blocks. Claire Hoffman of Beziers led all scorers with 24 kills, two blocks and an ace. Serena Gray had 12 kills (.647), three blocks and an ace, Taylor Fricano had four kills and setter Ella May Powell one.

Nantes (16-2) survived a five-setter with Marcq en Baroeul (5-14) as Mims went off for 24 kills, two aces and a block. Keene added seven kills, two blocks and an ace.

Nancy (15-5) won its third in a row by sweeping TFOC. Katelyn Evans was named MVP with 10 kills, seven blocks and an ace. Haylie Bennett added nine kills and five blocks. Shayla Hoeft had six kills and two blocks. Nancy setter Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres had four kills, a block, and an ace.

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