COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 3, 2020) – Play in Japan’s women’s league began on Oct. 17.
Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson is playing for Hisamitsu Springs (4-2) in Kobe city, Hyogo and Tosu city, Saga, Japan. She is competing for the first time since having her son last November.
On Nov. 1, Hisamitsu defeated Toyota Auto Body Queenseis, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-21). Akinradewo Gunderson scored 13 points on 11 kills and two blocks.
Opposite Annie Drews is playing for JT Marvelous (4-1) in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan. On Nov 1, JT Marvelous beat the Ageo Medics, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22. Drews scored 19 points on 18 kills and one block.
Opposite Kathryn Plummer is playing for the Denso Airybees (3-1) in Nishio city, Aichi, Japan. On Nov. 1, the Airybees beat the PFU BlueCats, 25-11, 25-22, 25-17. Plummer scored 24 points on 19 kills, three blocks and two aces.
Middle blocker Hannah Tapp plays for Hitachi Rivale (3-2) in Hitachinaka city, Ibaraki, Japan. On Nov. 1, it fell to the Okayama Seagulls, 3-1 (25-19, 27-29, 25-19, 25-13). Tapp scored eight points on seven kills and one block.
Outside hitter Simone Lee plays for the Kurobe Aqua Fairies (1-4). On Oct. 31, Kurobe fell to Denso and Plummer, 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-21). Plummer scored 13 points on 11 kills and two blocks. Lee played as a substitute and scored a point on a kill.
ITALY
Outside hitter Aaron Russell, opposite James Shaw and Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza (4-4) beat setter Kawika Shoji and Kioene Padova (1-7), 3-1 (16-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-22) on Nov. 1. Russell scored 15 points on 11 kills, three blocks and one ace. Shoji scored two points on two kills and set Padova to a .485 hitting efficiency.
Outside hitter T.J. DeFalco and Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia (5-3) beat middle blocker Max Holt and Vero Volley Monza (3-5), 3-1 (25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22) on Nov. 1. DeFalco was named MVP and scored 14 points on nine kills, four aces and one block. Holt scored four points on two kills, one block and one ace.
Setter Micah Christenson and Leo Shoes Modena (4-3) fell to Cucine Lube Civitanova (8-0), 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-23) on Nov. 1. Christenson scored two points on one kill and one block and set Modena to a .532 hitting efficiency.
On Oct. 25, Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke led NBV Verona with 21 points and was named MVP as Verona beat Top Volley Cisterna, 3-2 (25-19, 26-28, 25-23, 24-26, 15-11). Jaeschke scored on 19 kills and two blocks.
On the women’s side, on Oct. 28, outside hitter Kim Hill made her first start for Imoco Volley Conegliano (8-0), scoring five points on five kills as Conegliano beat Il Bisonte Firenze (3-5), 3-1 (19-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-17).
On Nov. 1, Conegliano beat Bosca S.Bernardo Cuneo (3-2), 3-0 (25-11, 25-10, 25-16). Hill scored nine points on eight kills and one ace.
On Oct. 28, Igor Gorgonzola Novara with middle blocker Haleigh Washington and setter Micha Hancock beat Vbc Èpiù Casalmaggiore, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-18) on Oct. 28. Washington scored 11 points on six kill and five blocks. Hancock scored five points on three kills and two aces. She set Novara to a .394 hitting efficiency.
TURKEY
Vakifbank with outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley extended its undefeated record to 11-0 on Oct. 30 with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20) win over Nilüfer Bld. with outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons and opposite Willow Johnson. Bartsch-Hackley scored 11 points on eight kills, two blocks and one ace. Wilhite scored 12 points on nine kills and three aces. Johnson scored 10 points on eight kills, one block and one ace.
Eczacıbaşı VitrA, with opposite Jordan Thompson and middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu, beat Kuzeyboru on Nov. 3, 3-0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-14). Thompson started the first two sets and scored eight points on six kills and two aces. Ogbogu did not play.
Türk Hava Yolları with setter Lauren Carlini and outside hitter Madi Kingdon Rishel beat Çan Gençlik Kale Spor Akademi Kulübü on Oct. 31, 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-20). Kingdon scored 12 points on seven kills, four aces and one block. Carlini scored three points on three kills and set her team to a .393 hitting efficiency.
On Nov. 3, Türk Hava Yolları beat Karayollari, 3-1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-19). Kingdon led all scorers with 26 points on 23 kills, two aces and one block. Carlini scored four points on three kills and one block. She set her team to a .391 hitting efficiency.
Middle blocker Rachael Adams and Aydin B.Sehir Bld. beat Karayollari, 3-2 (25-15, 21-25, 28-26, 17-25, 15-11) on Oct. 31. Adams scored eight points on seven kills and one block.
On Nov. 3, Adams and Aydin B.Sehir Bld. beat Sariyer Bld., 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23). Adams scored 13 points on eight kills, three blocks and two aces. American Madison Rigdon scored 14 points for Sariyer on 12 kills, one block and one ace.
POLAND
The pandemic continues to take its toll on overseas volleyball leagues as PGE Skra Bełchatów has now had to quarantine as players and staff have tested positive. Outside hitter Taylor Sander is on the team’s roster but has yet to play in a match.
A story on the Polish league web site said Sander continues to rehab his shoulder and that he should be playing for Skra when it is 100 percent ready.
Setter Josh Tuaniga and Ślepsk Malow Suwałki defeated outside hitter Brenden Sander and Cerrad Enea Czarni Radom, 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-27, 15-8) on Oct. 28. Tuaniga scored five points on three kills, one block and one ace. He set his team to a .403 hitting efficiency. Sander started four sets and scored 13 points on 11 kills and two aces.
On Oct. 31, Sander and Radom beat VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa, 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-19). Sander scored 12 points on 10 kills, one block and one ace.
Middle blocker David Smith and Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle defeated Cuprum Lubin, 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-20, 25-16) on Oct. 27. Smith started the first two sets and scored on two kills.
RUSSIA
Libero Erik Shoji and Fakel Novy Urengoy fell to Kuzbass Kemerovo, 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 15-13) on Oct. 28. Shoji was credited with 25 receptions, 48 percent positive.
FRANCE
Middle blocker Taylor Averill scored 14 points on 10 kills and four blocks as his Cannes team defeated Nantes Reze, 3-2 (22-25, 25-16, 19-25, 28-26, 15-13) on Oct. 30.
On Oct. 31, middle blocker Dan McDonnell and Chaumont beat Nice, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19). McDonnell started the final two sets and scored 10 points on seven kills, two blocks and one ace.
Four other French matches scheduled for Oct. 30 were postponed until next year due to the pandemic.
GERMANY
Opposite Ben Patch, outside hitter Cody Kessel and the Berlin Recycling Volleys suffered their first loss of the season in their third game, falling to Buhl, 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 26-28, 25-22). Patch led all scorers with 19 points on 17 kills and two blocks. Kessel started the final two sets and scored eight points on seven kills and one block.