Monday, 15 Jul 2024

Plummer Dominates, VNL Stocking Stuffers and More

The NCAA women’s collegiate season recently come to a close with an exciting title match between U.S. Women’s National Team players Kathryn Plummer and Dana Rettke. Stanford emerged as the champions for the third time in four years. Additionally, Kayla Banwarth, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, has accepted a head coaching position in the SEC after moving on from the University of Nebraska.

Plummer A Star Back On The Rise

Kathryn Plummer, who played for the U.S. Women’s National Team and helped secure a gold medal in the 2019 Pan American Cup, returned to Stanford for her senior campaign. Despite a mid-season injury that caused her to miss 10 matches and prevented her from receiving AVCA honors, Plummer made a triumphant comeback. She played a pivotal role in Stanford’s dominant performance during the final regular season matches and the NCAA postseason tournament. In the championship match against the University of Wisconsin, Plummer showcased her skills with 22 kills, a .459 hitting efficiency, an ace, three block assists, and 10 digs.

NCAA Champion Stanford Coaching Staff Ties To National Team

Stanford’s coaching staff boasts extensive experience with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Head coach Kevin Hambley served as an assistant coach from 2001-2004, including during the Athens Olympic Games. Assistant coach Alisha Glass Childress was the starting setter for Team USA’s bronze-medal victory at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Associate head coach Denise Corlett played for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 1982 and 1983, in addition to her participation in the 1979 World University Games. Corlett also contributes to the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout as an assistant in player evaluations.

Rettke Leading Wisconsin

Dana Rettke, who was part of the U.S. Women’s FIVB Volleyball Nations League gold-medal team and the 2020 Olympic qualification tournament, completed her junior year with a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship. Rettke’s standout performance in the semifinals included 19 kills on a .484 hitting efficiency, three aces, a block solo, and seven block assists. Although Stanford proved to be formidable competition in the championship match, Rettke contributed kills and a block assist to Wisconsin’s efforts.

Banwarth Moving Up

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Kayla Banwarth, a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, transitioned to coaching shortly after her retirement from the U.S. Women’s National Team. She spent three seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Nebraska, where she witnessed an NCAA championship in 2017 and a runner-up finish in 2018. Banwarth has now taken a step up the coaching ladder as the head coach at the University of Mississippi.

Larson with Shanghai in Chinese League

Jordan Larson, an outside hitter hailing from Hooper, Nebraska, is currently playing for Shanghai in the Chinese Super League. In a recent match against Beijing Auto, Larson scored four kills on 12 attacks. Shanghai will face Guangdong Hengda in the semifinals, with matches scheduled on December 24, 28, and 31.

Bartsch-Hackley, Dixon with Beijing Auto in Chinese League

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley and Tori Dixon, both playing for Beijing Auto in the Chinese Super League, faced off against Shanghai in the final match of the second round playoff pool. Bartsch-Hackley’s standout performance included 18 points with 16 kills, two aces, and a positive reception rate of 65% on 17 chances. Dixon contributed eight kills, three blocks, and scored 11 points.

Ogbogu, Hill with Conegliano in Italian League

Chiaka Ogbogu and Kim Hill are representing Imoco Volley Conegliano in the Italian Serie A1 and European Champions League this season. In a recent European Champions League match against Nantes VB, Ogbogu tallied 10 kills, three blocks, and an ace, while Hill added 10 kills, two blocks, and had an 83% positive reception rate. In their Italian Serie A1 match against Il Bisonte Firenze, Hill pocketed 13 kills with just one hitting error, and Ogbogu contributed five kills, five blocks, and an ace.

Courtney, Hancock with Novara in Italian League

Megan Courtney and Micha Hancock are currently playing for Igor Gorgonzola Novara in the Italian Serie A1 and European Champions League. In a recent Champions League match against RC Cannes, Hancock set Novara to victory with a 37% kill rate, two kills, and a block. Courtney chipped in with three kills and a positive receptio rate of 43%. In their Italian Serie A1 match against Pomi Casalmaggiore, Hancock set to a 48% kill rate, while Courtney had two blocks.

Washington, Lowe with Busto Arsizio in Italian League

Haleigh Washington and Karsta Lowe are representing Unet E-Work Busto Arsizio in the Italian Serie A1 and CEV Cup this season. In their CEV Cup 16th Finals Round match against VK Up Olomouc, Lowe scored seven kills, while Washington added five kills and two blocks. In their Italian Serie A1 match against Lardini Filottrano, Lowe scored 11 points with 10 kills and an ace, and Washington contributed eight kills and two blocks.

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Poulter with Chieri in Italian League

Jordyn Poulter is competing for Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri in the Italian Serie A1. In a recent match against Zanetti Bergamo, Poulter set Chieri to a 44% kill rate and chipped in with two aces, two blocks, and a kill.

Alhassan with Caserta in Italian League

Rhamat Alhassan is currently competing for Golden Tulip Volato 2.0 Caserta in the Italian Serie A1. In a recent match against Bosca San Bernardo Cuneo, Alhassan contributed six kills and a block.

Foecke with Firenze in Italian League

Mikaela Foecke is playing for Il Bisonte Firenze in the Italian Serie A1. In a recent match against Imoco Volley Conegliano, Foecke scored three kills.

Cuttino with Casalmaggiore in Italian League

Danielle Cuttino is representing Epiu Pomi Casalmaggiore in the Italian Serie A1. In a recent match against Igor Gorgonzola Novara, Cuttino tallied 12 kills.

Jones-Perry with Brescia in Italian League

Roni Jones-Perry is playing for Banca Valsabbina Millenium Brescia in the Italian Serie A1. In a recent match against Savino Del Bene Scandicci, Jones-Perry had one attack attempt.

Robinson with Fenerbahce in Turkish League

Kelsey Robinson is representing Fenerbahce in the Turkish League and European Champions League. In a recent European Champions League match against LP Salo, Robinson scored 10 kills, two blocks, and an ace. In the Turkish league, Fenerbahce is currently in third place.

Kingdon-Rishel with THY in Turkish League

Madi Kingdon-Rishel is playing for Turk Hava Yollari (THY) in the Turkish League this season. THY finished the first half of the season in sixth place.

Drews with JT Marvelous in Japan V-League

Annie Drews is currently playing in the Japan V-League with JT Marvelous. In a recent match against Saitama Ageo Medics, Drews scored 37 points with 35 kills, one block, and one ace. JT Marvelous bounced back in their next match against Kurobe Aqua Fairies, with Drews contributing eight kills, six blocks, and an ace.

Tapp with Hitachi in Japan V-League

Hannah Tapp is representing Hitachi Rivale in the Japan V-League. In their recent match against Okayama Seagulls, Tapp provided 21 points with 17 kills and four blocks. Hitachi also played against NEC Red Rockets, with Tapp contributing 11 points.

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Lee with Kurobe in Japan V-League

Simone Lee is currently playing for Kurobe Aqua Fairies in the Japan V-League. In their recent match against Toray, Lee scored 24 points with 23 kills.

Carlini with Dinamo Moscow in Russia League

Lauren Carlini is playing for Dinamo Moscow in the Russia Super League and the European Champions League. In a recent European Champions League match against RC Cannes, Carlini set to a 37% kill rate. In their Russia Super League match against Uralochka, Carlini recorded a block.

Rivers, Rosenthal with Stuttgart in German Bundesliga

Krystal Rivers and Jenna Rosenthal are representing Allianz MTV Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga and the European Champions League. In a recent match against SSC Palmberg Schwerin, Rivers scored 19 points with 18 kills and a block. Stuttgart is currently in second place in the Bundesliga standings.

Wong-Orantes with Schwerin in German Bundesliga

Justine Wong-Orantes is playing for SSC Palmberg Schwerin in the German Bundesliga. In their recent match against Sliedrecht Sport, Wong-Orantes had a positive reception rate of 45%. Schwerin is currently in first place in the Bundesliga standings.

Rolfzen with Dresdner in German Bundesliga

Kadie Rolfzen is representing Dresdner in the German Bundesliga and the CEV Challenge Cup. In a recent match against VC Wiesbaden, Rolfzen scored 12 points with 11 kills and an ace. Dresdner is currently in fifth place in the Bundesliga standings.

Seliger-Swenson with Beziers in French League

Samantha Seliger-Swenson is playing for Beziers in the French League and the CEV Challenge Cup. In a recent match against Saint Raphael, Seliger-Swenson had five kills and assisted Beziers to a 37% kill rate. Beziers is currently in fourth place in the French League standings.

Wilhite Parsons with Sesi Bauru in Brazilian Superliga

Sarah Wilhite Parsons is competing for Sesi Bauru in the Brazilian Superliga. In a recent match against Itambe Minas, Wilhite Parsons had a positive reception rate of 67%. Sesi Bauru is currently in fourth place in the Superliga standings.

Benson with NUC in Swiss League

Amanda Benson is playing for Viteos Neuchatel UC in the Swiss League and the CEV Cup. In a recent match against VBC Cheseaux, Benson had a 100% excellent reception rate. Neuchatel UC is currently tied for first place in the Swiss League standings.