This is our weekly update on USA women playing professional volleyball around the world. Most of the players are former NCAA standouts:
Champions League
VakifBank started its title defense with a 25-15, 25-21, 25-9 sweep of Crvena Zvezda. Kara Bajema had a match-high three aces and four kills and two blocks. Chiaka Ogbogu had seven kills.
Imoco Conegliano, aiming to avenge its finals defeat last season, swept Vasas Oduba (25-15, 25-16, 25-19). Kathryn Plummer had seven kills (hitting .500) and Kelsey Cook had seven kills each. Taylor Bannister led Vasas with nine kills, two aces and a block.
Krystal Rivers powered Stuttgart to a sweep over LKS Lodz (25-23, 25-12, 25-20). Rivers was named MVP as she had 21 kills (.439), a block and an ace. Simone Lee did not play.
Milano swept Prometey 25-17, 25-20, 25-21 but stats were not available.
Germany
Schwerin upset a shorthanded Stuttgart in the semifinals of the German Cup (18-25, 25-20, 18-25, 27-25, 15-8). Lindsey Ruddins, who had 27 kills, was named MVP as she powered Schwerin to overcome a seven-point deficit in the fourth set. Stuttgart was without Rivers and Alexis Hart, who were out with an illness. Lee shifted to the opposite and had 15 kills, three aces and two blocks for Stuttgart.
Potsdam held off a surging Aachen to advance to the final as well (25-21, 30-28, 25-23). Setter Ashley Evans had a match-high six blocks for Aachen. Aachen bowed out in the semifinals, a first for the team since 2018. Potsdam will meet Schwerin in the final, a replay of the 2020/21 final, which Schwerin won.
Italy
Bergamo bounced back from a slow start to beat Chieri 15-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-21. Khalia Lanier led Bergamo (6-5) with 15 kills and two blocks. Mac May chipped in two kills after coming off the bench. Brionne Butler had eight kills (.467) and two blocks for Chieri (7-4).
Scandicci followedi its win over Conegliano last week with a simple sweep over Cuneo (25-20, 25-22, 25-16). Haleigh Washington came off the bench to have two blocks and a kill for Scandicci (8-3). Anna Stevenson-Hall led all players with three aces and had four kills and two blocks for Cuneo (5-6). Dani Drews had nine kills and two blocks.
Vallefoglia swept Perugia 25-20, 25-22, 25-16 to break its losing streak. Micha Hancock had two aces, a kill and a block for Vallefoglia (4-7). Stephanie Samedy led Perugia (2-9) with 12 kills while Tori Dilfer added…
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