Women’s pro: Big Stanford week for Gray, Gates, Fitzmorris (26 kills in Greece), Plummer

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

France

Cannes swept Saint Raphael 25-17, 25-19, 25-17 as former Stanford teammates Jenna Gray and Madeleine Gates made their French league debuts with a sweep of Saint Raphael. Gates had four kills (.800) and two aces. Gray added three kills and an ace for Cannes as she led the team to hit .375. Carly Snyder added six kills (.400) and two aces. Malina Terrell was top scorer for Saint Raphael with 11 kills (.200) and a block.

Nantes beat Chamalieres 23-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-14 as the winners overcame some missing players in the league opener. Taylor Mims suffered a small injury and was unable to play. Alli Stumler filled in as opposite in her first professional match and had 15 points for Nantes.

TFOC swept Levallois 25-16, 25-15, 26-24 and Taylor Fricano was top scorer for TFOC as she had 16 kills (.278), two blocks, and an ace in her season debut. Shannon Scully made her pro debut, adding seven kills (.211), one block, and one ace. Scully was the match’s best passer, passing 73% positive. Kendall White had 17 receptions, passing 53% positive. Haylie Bennett led Levallois with 13 kills (.242) and a block.

Venelles defeated Marcq en Barouel 25-17, 22-25, 27-25, 25-21 as August Raskie was named MVP. Raskie had three kills and an ace while leading Venelles to hit .302. Katelyn Evans was top scorer as she had 15 kills (.361) and two blocks. Sam Drechsel added 14 kills (.276) and a block.

Beziers blanked France 2024 25-10, 25-20, 25-9 in a sweep of the French federation’s developmental team,. Avery Skinner was named MVP with 11 kills (.524) and two aces in her reunion with her Kentucky teammate Madison Lilley. Lilley added a kill and an ace as she led Beziers to hit .440. It was the first time they played together since winning the NCAA title in the spring of 2021. Blake Mohler contributed six kills (.625) and three blocks.

Paris SC beat Nancy 16-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23 as Lauren Page and Shayla Hoeft both had 10 points. Page added five kills (.625), three aces, and two blocks. Hoeft had seven kills (.417), two blocks, and an ace.

Italy 

Milano beat Pinerolo 25-16, 25-17, 27-29, 25-13 as Jordan Thompson made her Italian league debut with a top-scorer performance. Thompson had 19 kills (hitting .262), two blocks, and an ace for Milano. Teammate Dana Rettke had eight kills (.467), a match…