Women’s pro volleyball: Adams, Novara score Champions League upset; Drechsel leads Venelles

This is our weekly update on USA women playing professional volleyball around the world. The Turkish league is on hold until March:

Champions League

Novara upset VakifBank 25-19, 17-25, 25-22, 25-23 in the final match of the Champions League pool phase. McKenzie Adams was named MVP and was the second top scorer for Novara with 16 kills (hitting .400). Chiaka Ogbogu had five kills and a match-high five blocks for VakifBank and Kara Bajema had five kills. Novara finished at the top of the group and will advance directly to the quarterfinals. VakifBank will face LKS Lodz in the playoff round.

CEV Cup

THY advanced to the quarterfinals by knocking out Busto Arsizio 25-18, 25-22, 25-20. Madi Kingdon was the top scorer for THY with 14 points. Carli Lloyd had two points while setting for Busto Arsizio.

Italy

Scandicci (15-4) beat Macerata 20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-21 as Haleigh Washington had eight kills, two blocks, and an ace. Symone Abbott had four kills for Macerata (2-17). Reserves Akuabata Okenwa and Claire Chaussee had two kills each.

Chieri (13-6) upset Novara 25-22, 14-25, 25-15, 28-26. Brionne Butler did not play Chieri. McKenzie Adams had 14 kills, two aces and a block for Novara (14-5). Chieri jumped Novara in the standings, based on points. Chieri sits in fourth with 39 points, while Novara fell to fifth with 38.

Conegliano fought past Casalmaggiore to earn a 25-23, 25-13, 26-24 sweep. Kathryn Plummer was the second top scorer for Conegliano (18-1) with 10 kills and a match-high four blocks. Kelsey Robinson-Cook added five kills, a block and an ace. Ali Frantti led Casalmaggiore (9-10) with 14 kills and setter Lauren Carlini added a block.

Milano (15-4) beat Vallefoglia 20-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-22 as Jordan Thompson had 22 kills and a block. Jordan Larson had nine kills, a block and an ace. Dana Rettke had an ace as a substitute in the third set. Annie Drews led Vallefoglia (7-12) with 20 kills, two blocks and an ace. Setter Micha Hancock had four kills.

Busto Arsizio (9-10) put on a dominant display by sweeping Bergamo 25-17, 25-16, 25-22. Carli Lloyd had two blocks and her offense hit .374. Khalia Lanier had five kills and a block for Bergamo (9-10). Mac May had three kills and an ace.

Japan

JT Marvelous fell to Toray 21-25, 25-21, 26-28, 25-19, 15-13. Karsta Lowe came off of the bench to have eight kills in the fourth and fifth sets for…