Women’s pro volleyball: Bannister leads Hungarian Cup win; Snyder, Skinner shine in France

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

Hungary

Taylor Bannister powered Vasas Budapest to the Hungarian Cup championship. She had 30 kills and hit .394 with a block in a 23-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-19, 17-15 win over Bekescsaba.

French Cup

Carli Snyder powered Cannes to the final in a 25-21, 25-23, 17-25, 20-25, 15-13 win over Venelles. Snyder had 17 kills and a match-high five aces. Claire Felix added five kills and four blocks, while Madeleine Gates had six kills, three aces, and a block. Jenna Gray set for Cannes and had two blocks. Katelyn Evans led Venelles with 16 kills, three blocks and an ace. Samantha Drechsel contributed 14 kills. Venelles setter August Raskie seven kills and a block.

Beziers used a key fourth-set run to advance to the final by beating Nantes 25-15, 19-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-8. Trailing 18-13 in set four, Avery Skinner found her aim as she contributed six of her match-high 25 kills from that point. Skinner hit .535 and had a block. Blake Mohler added eight kills and four blocks. Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with 42% positive reception. Beziers setter Madison Lilley had two blocks and an ace. Taylor Mims led Nantes with 20 kills, two aces, and a block. Jaelyn Keene added five kills, three blocks and an ace.

French League

Nantes (18-5) snapped its losing streak by beating Chamalieres 25-11, 26-28, 25-21, 25-18. Keene had eight kills, three aces, and two blocks and Mims added nine kills, two blocks and an ace.

Saint Raphael (10-13) kept its playoff hopes alive by beating Venelles 32-34, 15-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-12. Malina Terrell had 10 kills and a block, while Drechsel had 12 kills and two blocks for Venelles (12-11). Evans added 16 kills. Raskie had four kills and two blocks.

Nancy boosted its playoff chances by upsetting Volero Le Cannet 25-16, 18-25, 25-23, 25-22. Annayka Legros was named MVP for Nancy as she had 10 kills (.600), three blocks, and an ace. Reserve Lauren Page had two aces, two blocks and two kills. Shayla Hoeft added three kills as Nancy improved to 11-12 with its fourth straight win.

Taylor Fricano’s match-high 24 kills was not enough for TFOC in a 25-22, 22-25, 25-16, 25-19 loss to Mulhouse. Shannon Scully was limited to three kills for TFOC (15-7). Kendall White was credited with 53% positive reception.

Beziers won its third in a row, beating Cannes 21-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-22….