Women’s pro volleyball: Bajema, VakifBank, Bajema make Champions final; Wilhite-Parsons leads Red Rockets

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

Champions League

VakifBank Istanbul pulled off the most improbable comeback by sweeping Fenerbahce, winning the golden set 15-12 to advance to its third consecutive Champions League final.
After getting swept 25-22, 25-14, 25-22, Vakifbank needed to win that single set on Fenerbahce’s court to advance.
Kara Bajema was named MVP as she had 10 kills (hitting .500), two aces, and a block. Chiaka Ogbogu had a match-high six blocks and four kills (1.000) for Vakifbank.

CEV Cup

Scandicci won the title by beating Alba Blaj 25-18, 25-12, 25-11. Haleigh Washington had seven kills (.778), two aces, and a block. Kaitlyn Hord did not play for Alba Blaj.

Italy

Imoco Conegliano started its Italian league title defense by sweeping Busto Arsizio in the first match of the quarterfinals 25-18, 25-15, 25-19. Kathryn Plummer had six kills and two aces and Kelsey Cook had five kills and a block. Setter Carli Lloyd had two kills for Busto Arsizio.

Milano fought off a scare from Casalmaggiore 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-12. Dana Rettke was MVP with seven kills (.875) after coming off the bench mid-way through set four. Jordan Thompson appeared as a brief substitute. Ali Frantti came off the bench to have nine kills, one block and an ace for Casalmaggiore. Lauren Carlini was credited with two kills, two blocks and one ace.

Washington had a match-high five blocks and four kills as Scandicci earned its first win in the postseason by sweeping Bergamo 25-23, 25-21, 25-20. Khalia Lanier led Bergamo with 11 kills.

Vallefoglia got its first win in the newly formed Playoff Challenge by beating Pinerolo 27-25, 23-25, 25-12, 25-21. Annie Drews led with 20 kills (.450), a block, and an ace. Micha Hancock had a kill for Vallefoglia. The winners of the two series in the playoff challenge will compete for a spot in next season’s CEV Challenge Cup, along with the losing quarterfinal teams.

Firenze beat Cuneo in the Playoff Challenge 22-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10 as Rhamat Alhassan had seven kills (1.000) and a block. Anna Stevenson-Hall had nine kills and four blocks for Cuneo. Dani Drews had three kills as a substitute.

Turkey

Nilufer clinched a playoff spot by pulling…