International volleyball: Tia Scambray named Swiss MVP as NUC Viteos takes playoff lead

This is our weekly update on USA women playing professional volleyball around the world. The women’s professional seasons are winding down around the world and, as leagues finish, many players are heading home to prepare for the busy summer ahead (Volleyball Nations League and the Olympics). Plenty of American are still deep into their playoffs, especially in Italy where six-time defending-champion Imoco Conegliano plays Scandicci in the finals:

Switzerland

NUC Viteos opened the Swiss League finals series by sweeping Dudingen. Tessa Grubbs led with 16 kills, four aces and three blocks. Former Washington star Tia Scambray, named MVP for the league, added 10 kills, three blocks and ace. Madeline Haynes had seven kills. Jasmine Gross finished with four kills, a block and an ace.

Italy 

Scandicci advanced to the Italian League finals for the first time in team history beating Milano 2-0. However, neither Haleigh Washington nor Lindsey Ruddins played. Dana Rettke came off the bench for Milano and had five kills and two blocks.

Conegliano bounced back from its only defeat of the year and swept Novara to make its sixth finals in a row. Kathryn Plummer had 14 kills (hitting .523) and a block and Kelsey Robinson Cook added 11 kills and a block. Novara’s Markina Markova, a Russian who played at Florida, had 13 kills, a block and an ace.

Previously unbeaten Conegliano lost in five sets Novara in the second match of their best-of-five.Plummer was Conegliano’s second-top scorer with 16 kills, three blocks and two aces. Robinson Cook had 11 kills and a block, while Markova led Novara with 22 kills, three aces, and a block.

Türkiye

VakifBank claimed third place by sweeping THY for a second time in the best-of-three series. Ali Frantti finished with 13 kills (.500) and an ace. Chiaka Ogbogu added three blocks and a kill and then bid farewell to VakifBank, her club for the past three seasons. VakifBank won nine tournament titles in that time. 

In VakifBank’s first sweep, Frantti had seven kills, three blocks and an ace and Ogbogu had five kills and three blocks. Jordan Thompson was out with an injury.

Kuzyeboru and Galatasaray have a deciding match remaining.

Kuzyeboru started the series for fifth place with a five-set win as Sarah Parsons had 22 kills and four blocks. Logan Eggleston led Galatasaray with 24 kills and two blocks. Danielle Cuttino chipped in four kills as a…