Women’s pro volleyball: Cook, Plummer, Congliano win Italian Cup; Cuttino notches big numbers

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

Imoco Conegliano, led by Kelsey Cook and Kathryn Plummer, won the Italian Cup for the fourth year in a row. NCAA-champion libero Zoe Fleck sparkled in her pro debut in Germany and Danielle Cuttino continued to tear it up in Japan.

Italian Cup

Kelsey Cook had 10 kills and hit .500 as Imoco Conegliano won its fourth Italian Cup in a row by sweeping Milano 25-17, 25-23, 25-19. Milano was in the final for the first time.
Kathryn Plummer added nine kills and a block. Jordan Thompson led Milano with 16 kills (.394) and a block. Jordan Larson was held to two kills while Dana Rettke, coming off the bench, had two blocks.

Imoco Conegliano advanced by crushing Cuneo 25-12, 25-19, 25-12 in the quarterfinals and Novara in the semifinals 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23.

In the quarterfinals, Cook was the second top scorer with 11 kills (.450), two aces and a block. Plummer added seven kills (.636), two blocks, and an ace. Anna Stevenson-Hall had two kills and an ace for Cuneo.

In the semifinals, Plummer was the second top scorer with 18 kills (.361). Cook added seven kills and a block. Adams was limited to only six kills and an ace for Novara.

Novara opened with a 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 27-25 win over Chieri as McKenzie Adams had 10 kills and a block. Brionne Butler came off the bench for Chieri to contribute three kills and two blocks.

Milano held off Casalmaggiore 25-23, 28-26, 25-16). Thompson had 25 kills (.550) and a block. Larson had nine kills, one block and an ace. Ali Frantti led Casalmaggiore with 10 kills and two blocks. Lauren Carlini added two kills.

Bergamo pulled off the only upset of the quarterfinals by beating Scandicci 20-25, 25-22, 15-25, 25-23, 15-13. Khalia Lanier led Bergamo with 21 kills (.321) and an ace as Bergamo advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2016. Haleigh Washington had seven kills (.461) and a block for Scandicci.

Milano advanced to the final after sweeping Bergamo 25-17, 25-21, 25-15. Thompson was the top scorer again as she had 15 kills (.444) and a match-high three blocks. Larson added 11 kills (.409) and a block. Lanier was limited to six kills, while Mac May came in and got a kill.

Germany

Aachen spoiled Zoe Fleck’s professional debut by sweeping Munster 25-21, 25-21,…