Women’s pro volleyball: An MVP for Rettke; familiar names as PR league begins; Rivers stays hot

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

Champions League

Imoco Conegliano started the week by beating Vasas of Hungary 25-17, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18 as Kelsey Cook had six kills (hitting .400) and a block. Stephanie Samedy, who also was a substitute, had six kills and three blocks. Kathryn Plummer did not play. Taylor Bannister led all scorers with 18 kills and three aces for Vasas.

Milano beat Prometey 25-19, 25-18, 24-26, 25-14 as Dana Retke was named MVP after having 12 kills (.706), five blocks and three aces. Jordan Thompson chipped in nine kills and a block, but Jordan Larson did not play.

🇺🇲 MVP 🏅

What. A. Match. by @dana_rettke#VVGenerations 💙 #CLVolleyW pic.twitter.com/DCrNgzCNFn

— Vero Volley (@VeroVolley) January 31, 2023

VakifBank swept Beograd 25-23, 25-18, 25-18. Chiaka Ogbogu led with six kills (.625), a match-high six blocks and an ace. Teammate Kara Bajema added eight kills and three blocks.

Krystal Rivers, who had another huge week, went off for 31 kills and hit .378 to power Stuttgart past LKS Lodz 32-30, 18-25, 25-15, 19-25, 17-15. Simone Lee appeared as a brief substitute for Stuttgart.

CEV Cup

Olympiacos won the first of its playoff-round matches with Liberec 25-19, 25-13, 25-15 as Jaali Winters had 12 kills (.550) and three blocks.

Scandicci avoided the reserve sweep by beating Schwerin 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 16-25, 15-11. Haleigh Washington had four kills, three blocks and two aces for Scandicci, while Lindsey Ruddins had 14 kills and an ace for Schwerin.

THY stormed past Busto Arsizio 25-20, 25-14, 25-21as Madi Kingdon had nine kills and two blocks. Carli Lloyd had two blocks and a kill while setting for Busto Arsizio.

Challenge Cup

Suhl may be struggling in league play, but beat Prostejov 25-19, 18-25, 25-18, 25-22 as Danielle Harbin had 17 kills and four blocks. Julia Brown chipped in 16 kills and three aces. Setter Jenna Ewert had two kills and a block.

Chieri continued to storm through the competition by sweeping Sliedrecht 25-18, 25-16, 25-18. Brionne Butler did not play for Chieri.

Porto lost to Jedinstvo 25-18, 25-23, 27-25 despite 20 kills and two blocks by Kyra Holt. Tia Jimerson was limited to four kills and a block.