International volleyball: Skinner, Chieri win CEV Cup; Milano-Conegliano battle set

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

CEV Cup

Avery Skinner and Chieri claimed the CEV Cup, beating NUC Viteos in the final. Skinner had six kills, two aces and a block for Chieri and teammate Madi Kingdon Rushel had six kills, three blocks and an ace. The silver medal for NUC was the first for a Swiss team, which got 13 kills and a block from Madeline Haynes. Tessa Grubbs had seven kills, one block and an ace. Tia Scambray added five kills, a block and an ace and Jasmine Gross had two kills.

Champions League

Milano and Dana Rettke and Imoco Conegliano and Kathryn Plummer and Kelsey Robinson Cook are going head to head in the Champions League final.

Milano, in the title series for the first time, won a golden set against Fenerbahce to advance. After losing to Fenerbahce in four sets, Milano won the fifth 15-11. Rettke had three kills.

Conegliano returns to the final after a one-year absence after beating Eczacibasi in four sets. Plummer, who had an ace, and Cook had 11 kills each.

France

The French League quarterfinals pit top-seeded Nantes vs. Marcq en Barouel, second-seeded Paris vs. TFOC, No. 3 Mulhouse vs. Beziers and fourth-seeded Nancy vs. Volero Le Canne.

Carli Snyder was named MVP with 10 kills and two blocks Mulhouse (18-6) ended the regular season with a sweep over rival Volero Le Cannet (16-8). Annayka Legros had nine kills and four blocks. Jaali Winters had six kills and one block.

Nantes (21-3) finished in first place by sweepig TFOC (14-10). Taylor Mims was named MVP after getting 15 kills (.542), four aces and two blocks. Jaelyn Keene had five kills, two aces, and two blocks.

Beziers (14-10) finished by sweeping Marcq en Barouel (8-16). Claire Hoffman led with nine kills, three blocks and two aces. Serena Gray added six blocks, five kills and an ace and Molly Lohman had a block.

Cannes (9-15) ended its season with a four set victory over Chamalieres (8-16). Leah Meyer had eight kills, four blocks and an ace and Courtney Buzzerio had five kills, a block and an ace as a substitute for Chamalieres. Sabrina Starks added four kills and two blocks.

Italy

The Italian League quarterfinal pairings have top-seeded Conegliano. vs Roma, second-seeded Scandicci playing Vallefoglia, third-seeded Milano vs. Pinerolo and fourth-seeded Novara against Chieri.

Conegliano (26-0) capped a perfect regular season by beating Busto Arsizio (7-19) in four sets. Khalia Lanier had 12 kills, two aces and one block and setter Madi Bugg had two kills and an ace.

Scandicci (22-4) needed five sets to beat Bergamo (5-21). Lindsey Ruddins had a kill. Haleigh Washington did not play.

Milano (21-5) shuffled its lineup and was swept by Vallefoglia (12-14) to end the regular season. Kara Bajema led Milano with 11 kills and Rettke had five kills and two blocks.

Amber Igiede, the Baton Rougean who starred at Hawai’i was named MVP in her pro debut as she subbed in and helped Roma (12-14) upset Novara (19-7). Igiede had a match-high six blocks and six kills.

Skinner and Chieri (15-11) put an end to Casalmaggiore’s (10-16) playoff hopes in a sweep. Skinner was the top scorer with nine kills, three blocks, and two aces. Rushel added 11 kills and a block.

Firenze (11-15) put the dagger in Cuneo’s (7-19) season. Kendall Kipp led all scorers with 21 kills and two aces in the four-set victory. Madi Kubik had eight kills and a block as a substitute for Cuneo and teammate Anna Hall chipped in two kills, two blocks and an ace. Cuneo was relegated from the top flight of Italian volleyball despite having more wins and set victories than rival Bergamo.

Germany

The German league quarterfinals (best-of-three series) kicked off as Stuttgart, behind 16 kills from Krystal Rivers, beat Munster in a close four-set encounter. Munster’s Gloria Mutiri led all scorers with 22 kills (.422) and a block and setter Jenna Ewert added two aces and a kill. Zoe Fleck was credited with 43% positive reception.

Tia Jimerson’s career day was not enough as Dresdner was upset by sixth-seeded Wiesbaden in five sets. Jimerson had 19 kills (.621), four blocks and two aces. Grace Frohling added eight kills and an ace. Wiesbaden’s Jaidyn Blanchfield had 17 kills and an ace and Rachel Anderson had 12 kills and four blocks.

Potsdam earned a key win by sweeping Suhl as Danielle Harbin was the top scorer with eight kills, three aces and two blocks. Breland Morrissette had four kills and a block and Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with 71% positive reception. Suhl’s Eleanor Holthaus had seven kills and a block, Julia Brown had seven kills and Jenny Mosser and Adria Powell had a kill each.

Poland

Mac May powered Budowlani Lodz past rival LKS Lodz in the first match of their quarterfinal series, leading with 22 kills, three aces and two blocks.

Türkiye

Jordan Thompson had 24 kills, but VakifBank fell in the semifinals of the Turkish Cup in five sets to rival Eczacibasi. Chiaka Ogbogu had one block as a substitute.

Brazil

Osasco (18-4) earned the second seed in the playoffs by sweeping BluVolei (6-16). Brionne Butler had a match-high four blocks to go along with four kills and an ace.

SESC RJ (20-2), already the top seed, beat Brasilia in four sets. Roni Jones-Perry had six kills in the two sets she played.

Minas (15-7) closed out the regular season by sweeping rival Praia Clube (16-6) to get the third seed. Jenna Gray set for Minas, finishing with two blocks, a kill and an ace. Annie Mitchem had three kills.

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