COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 28, 2020) – Eczacıbaşı VitrA, with opposite Jordan Thompson and middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu is leading Turkey’s women’s league with a 4-1 record.
On Sept. 26, it beat Nilüfer Bld., including outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons and opposite Willow Johnson, 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-17). Thompson scored 14 points on 12 kills and two blocks. Ogbogu added seven points on five kills and two blocks.
Wilhite led Nilüfer Bld. (4-1) with 10 points on nine kills and one ace. Johnson started two sets and scored one point.
VakifBank, including outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, is in third place at 3-0. It won its most recent match on Sept. 19 against Türk Hava Yolları, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-15). Bartsch-Hackley scored 12 points on 10 kills and two aces. Türk Hava Yolları did not use setter Lauren Carlini or outside hitter Madi Kingdon Rishel, who are on its roster.
Vakifbank has had to postpone its next three matches due positive coronavirus tests among the players and staff.
Middle blocker Rachael Adams and Aydin B.Şehir Bld. are in eighth place in the league at 3-2. On Sept. 22, the team fell to Kuzeyboru, 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 17-25, 25-19). Adams finished with six points on four blocks, one kill and one ace. The team came back on Sept. 26 to sweep Beylikdüzü Voleybol İht., 3-0. Adams did not play in the match.
POLAND
Middle blocker David Smith and Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle are in first place in the league with a 3-0 record. On Sept. 19, they beat PGE Skra Bełchatów, 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-23). Smith scored seven points on four kills, two blocks and one ace. Outside hitter Taylor Sander is on Bełchatów’s roster but did not play.
Middle blocker Jeff Jendryk and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów beat libero Dustin Watten and GKS Katowice, 3-2 (25-15, 25-18, 19-25, 22-25, 15-7. Jendryk scored nine points on six kills and three blocks. Watten was credited with 24 receptions, 54 percent positive.
Ślepsk Malow Suwałki, the team of setter Josh Tuaniga, has had to cancel matches due to positive coronavirus tests among the athletes.
ITALY
In the second week of women’s regular season play, Megan Courtney, who usually plays libero for the U.S. Women, scored 21 points as an outside hitter for Savino Del Bene Scandicci as it beat Bartoccini Fortinfissi Perugia, 3-1 (17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22). Courtney scored on 18 kills, two blocks and one ace.
Igor Gorgonzola Novara, including middle blocker Haleigh Washington and setter Micha Hancock, beat Zanetti Bergamo, 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-15).
Washington scored eight points on six kills and two blocks. Hancock scored one point with a kill and set the team to a .440 hitting efficiency. U.S. opposite Juliann Faucette Johnson scored one point for Bergamo.
Italy’s men’s Superlega regular season opened on Sunday with middle blocker Max Holt and Vero Volley Monza defeating setter Micah Christenson and Leo Shoes Modena, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22).
Holt scored 14 points on nine kills, three blocks and two aces. Christenson scored three points on two kills and a block and set his team to a .385 hitting efficiency.
Outside hitter Aaron Russell and Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza beat Consar Ravenna, 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19) on Sept. 27. Russell scored 15 points on 14 kills and one ace.
Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and NBV Verona fell to Cucine Lube Civitanova, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-21) on Sept. 28. Jaeschke scored nine points on nine kills.
RUSSIA
In their first league match of the season, Libero Erik Shoji and Fakel Novy Urengoy lost a heartbreaker to Zenit Kazan, 3-2 (24-26, 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13). Shoji was credited with 23 receptions, 48 percent positive.
MATT ANDERSON SIGHTING