International volleyball: Taylor Mims, Jaelyn Keene lead Nantes to French Cup title

This is our weekly update on USA women playing professional volleyball around the world. Most leagues are finishing their regular seasons and/or playoffs are underway:

France

Nantes earned the first trophy in club history by sweeping Mulhouse to win the French Cup. Taylor Mims and Jaelyn Keene — who hit .800 — were Nantes’ second-top scorers, as both had 12 kills. Carli Snyder had eight kills for Mulhouse, while Jaali Winters finished with three. Annayka Legros had six kills and two blocks

In league play, the best-of-five quarterfinal series started last week and Keene was perfect on 10 attacks as Nantes swept swept Marcq en Baroeul. Keene, named MVP, also had four aces and a block. Mims had nine kills and a block. Tristin Savage had four kills, one block and an ace for Marcq en Baroeul.

Nancy upset defending-champion Volero Le Cannet in five sets as Katelyn Evans had 12 kills, eight blocks and two aces, Haylie Bennett had 11 kills, three blocks and an ace, and Shayla Hoeft followed with 12 kills and two blocks. Breana Runnels had with five kills and setter Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres had two blocks, one kill and an ace.

Winters had 16 kills as Mulhouse needed five sets to avoid an upset by Beziers. Snyder had 11 kills and three blocks and Legros had five kills and three blocks. Claire Hoffman of Beziers led all scorers with 23 kills (.512), two blocks and an ace. Serena Gray added seven kills, two blocks and two aces and substitute Molly Lohman had a kill.

Italy

Defending-champion Imoco Conegliano, Scandicci, Milano and Novara advanced to the semifinals.

Conegliano began its title defense against Roma in a best-of-three quarterfinal series and opened with a sweep as Kathryn Plummer hadd nine kills, two blocks and two aces and Kelsey Robinson Cook had four kills and a block. Roma’s Amber Igiede had three kills and a block.

Conegliano advanced with another sweep as Plummer had eight kills and two aces and Robinson Cook had six kills, three block, and an ace. Igiede had six kills, hitting .600, and a block.

Scandicci opened with a four-set win over Vallefoglia. Haleigh Washington had two kills. Scandicci then swept and Lindsey Ruddins appeared briefly.

Milano needed five sets to win in game one. Dana Rettke scored one block as a substitute. Milano earned their spot in the semifinals as they beat Pinerolo in four sets in the second match. Rettke and Kara Bajema did not play.

Chieri split their matches with Novara and they’ll play a winner-take-all third…