Milano, VakifBank stay atop Champions League

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

Champions League

A Milano-VakifBank battle is next.

VakifBank (4-1) stayed in the hunt to win Pool A by sweeping Mulhouse (0-5) as Jordan Thompson had 10 kills, Ali Frantti added eight kills and two aces, while Chiaka Ogbogu finished with nine kills (hitting .615) and a block. Jaali Winters had 11 kills (.526) for Mulhouse. Annayka Legros finished with seven kills, one block and an ace.

Milano (5-0) swept Stara Pazova (1-5) to stay a game ahead of VakifBank as Dana Rettke had a match-high five blocks and eight kills. Kara Bajema had seven kills, three blocks and an ace. 

Scandicci (5-0) remained unbeaten in Pool B by sweeping Plovdiv (1-4). Haleigh Washington had three kills, a block and an ace, while Ciara DeBell led Plovdiv with 11 kills.

Taylor Bannister had 11 kills and an ace but Vasas (0-5) lost to Eczacibasi (4-1) in four.

Danille Harbin was the MVP with 19 kills and a block as Potsdam (3-2) earned a vital win in Pool C by beating Budowlani Lodz (2-3). Breland Morrissette had a team-high three aces and a kill and a block. Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with 50% positive reception. Mac May finished with eight kills and three aces for Lodz.

Conegliano (5-0) clinched the top spot in Pool D by sweeping Beveren as Kathryn Plummer had 10 kills (.692) and an ace and Khalia Lanier added four kills, three aces and a block.

Krystal Rivers was named MVP as Stuttgart (2-3) beat Rzeszow (3-2) in five. Rivers led all players with 26 kills and a block. Kayla Haneline provided a boost off of the bench with six kills in as many attacks and a block.

CEV Cup

Beziers fell in the first match of the playoff round in five to Crvena Zvezda. Beziers’ Claire Hoffman and Taylor Fricano had 17 kills and two blocks each, Serena Gray added five kills and three blocks, and setter Ella May Powell had three kills.

Dresdner needed five sets to beat NUC Viteos as Grace Frohling led with 14 kills and three blocks. Tia Jimerson had eight kills and five blocks. Madeline Haynes of NUC Viteos was the top scorer with 17 kills, three aces and a block. Tia Scambray added 16 kills and three aces, Tessa Grubbs had 12 kills, and Jasmine Gross had nine kills and an ace.

Avery Skinner powered Chieri past Chemik Police in four with 16 kills (.484)…