Women’s pro report: Bajema, Rettke lead Milano; big week for Stuttgart’s Rivers

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

Champions League

Milano stayed unbeaten in Pool A by sweeping Mulhouse, which had just 17 kills. Kara Bajema had a match-high five blocks to go along with five kills and two aces. Dana Rettke added four kills and two blocks. Mulhouse’s Annayka Legros had two aces, one kill and one block. Carli Snyder added four kills.

VakifBank kept pace atop Pool A by sweeping Stara Pazova. Ali Frantti had 16 kills (.hitting 667) and two blocks. Chiaka Ogbogu had eight kills (.500), two aces and a block. Jordan Thompson subbed in and had a kill.

Scandicci won its second match in Pool B by sweeping Vasas. Haleigh Washington had eight kills, a block and an ace for Scandicci. Lindsey Ruddins (Scandicci) and Taylor Bannister (Vasas) did not play.

Potsdam was swept by Turkish giant Fenerbahce in Pool C. Match stats were unavailable.

Budowlani Lodz got its first win by beating Kamnik in four. Mac May rebounded from a slow start to finish twith 14 kills, a block, and an ace.

Conegliano used balance to overcome a Krystal Rivers-led Stuttgart.  Kelsey Robinson Cook led with 16 kills, three aces and two blocks in the four-set win. Kathryn Plummer added 11 kills, four aces and a block. Rivers 20 kills and one block.

CEV Cup

FC Porto swept Oudegem to advance to the round of 16 as Taylor Sandbothe had 11 kills (.733), an ace, and a block. Kyra Holt added 10 kills, while Lauren Page had six in as many attacks.

Beziers easily dispatched Brcko in straight sets to earn their spot in the round of 16. Taylor Fricano led Beziers with nine kills, four blocks and an ace. Serena Gray added nine kills (.818), three blocks and an ace.

Dresdner swept Gran Canaria to advance as Grace Frohling had 13 kills and two blocks. Tia Jimerson added four kills and four blocks.

Chieri swept Dudingen and Madi Kingdon had 13 kills (.565) in two sets. Avery Skinner did not play.

Challenge Cup

PAOK needed four sets to dispatch Prostejov to advance to the round of 16 as Kash Williams had 14 kills and a block.

Galatasaray easily swept Hameenlinna of Finland to move on. Logan Eggleston led Galatasaray with 11 kills. Danielle Cuttino had six kills, two…