WNT Update: U.S. Liberos Battle in Germany

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 5, 2024) – Some international leagues have not returned from the holiday break while others never really took a break.

We have updates on U.S. liberos battling in Germany and other U.S. Women’s National Team players competing around the world.

GERMANY

Justine Wong-Orantes and SC Potsdam (7-6) went 1-2 in their last three matches. On Dec. 30, Potsdam beat SSC Palmberg Schwerin 3-1 (18-25, 25-22. 25-16, 25-20). Wong-Orantes was credited with 13 receptions, 77 percent positive. U.S. middle Breland Morrissette scored eight points on three kills, three blocks and two aces. Opposite Danielle Harbin played as a substitute.

On Jan. 3, Potsdam fell to U.S. libero Zoe Fleck and USA Münster (4-9) 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-12). Fleck was credited with seven receptions, 43 percent positive. Wong-Orantes had eight receptions, 62 percent positive. For Münster, U.S. opposite Gloria Mutiri scored 17 points on 17 kills. Setter Jenna Ewert scored four points on a kill, a block and two aces and set the team to a .414 hitting efficiency.

For Potsdam, Harbin scored 10 points on nine kills and one ace. Morrissette started the first two sets and scored two points on a kill and a block.

Middle blocker Kayla Haneline and Allianz MTV Stuttgart (12-1) went 3-0 in their last three matches and leads the league.

On Dec. 23, Stuttgart beat Münster 3-2 (17-25, 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 15-11). Haneline scored nine points on five kills, a match-high three blocks and one ace. U.S. opposite Krystal Rivers led all scorers with 22 points on 20 kills, one block and one ace.

For Münster, Fleck was credited with 18 receptions, 44 percent positive. Mutiri led her team with 17 points on 16 kills and one block. Ewert scored five points on four kills and an ace.

On Dec. 13, Potsdam and Stuttgart won semifinal matches in the DVV Cup tournament and will play each other in the final on March 3.

ITALY

Prosseco Doc Imoco Conegliano (14-0) with outside hitters Kelsey (Robinson) Cook, Khalia Lanier and Kathryn Plummer and setter Madi Bugg celebrated the day after Christmas with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-21) win over Itas Trentino. Cook led all scorers with 15 points on 14 kills and one ace. Lanier added 13 points on 12 kills and one ace. Plummer and Bugg did not play.

Plummer did make her return to the court after injury on Dec. 23 when Conegliano beat Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18). Plummer started the first two sets and scored seven points on seven kills. Cook took over and scored four points on two kills and two blocks. Bugg played as a substitute.

Middle blocker Dana Rettke, outside hitter Kara Bajema and Allianz Vero Volley Milano (13-1) also swept two straight matches. Most recently on Dec. 26, Milano beat Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio 3-1 (30-28, 17-25, 25-15, 25-17). Rettke scored 10 points on five kills and five blocks. Bajema started the first two sets and scored three points on three kills.

Middle Haleigh Washington and Savino Del Bene Scandicci (12-2) went 2-0 in their last two matches of 2023. Washington did not play in either match.

Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 (8-6) with outside hitters Avery Skinner and Madi Kingdon Rishel went 1-1 in their last two matches. On Dec. 23, Chieri beat Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore (2-12) with setter Micha Hancock and outside hitter Simone Lee 3-1 (25-17, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16). Lee recently transferred to Casalmaggiore from Sariyer Bld. in Türkiye.

Skinner scored 18 points on 16 kills and two aces. Kingdon Rishel started the last set and scored six points on six kills. Lee scored 10 points on nine kills and one block. Hancock scored four points on three kills and one ace. She set the team to a .308 hitting efficiency.

On Dec. 26, Chieri fell to Igor Gorgonzola Novara 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18). Skinner scored 14 points on 12 kills and two blocks. Kingdon Rishel totaled nine points on nine kills.

Honda Olivero S.Bernardo Cuneo (5-9) with middle Anna Hall and outside hitter Madi Kubik went 1-1 in their last two matches. Most recently, on Dec. 26, Cuneo beat Wash4green Penerolo 3-2 (20-25, 25-13, 23-25, 25-22, 17-15). Hall scored 16 points on eight kills, a match-high six blocks and two aces. Kubik led her team with 19 points on seventeen kills, one block and one ace. She was named the match MVP.

Casalmaggiore with Hancock and Lee lost to Volley Bergamo 1991, 3-1 (25-23. 25-19, 19-25. 25-18) on Dec. 26. Lee scored 10 points on seven kills and three blocks. Hancock scored four points on a kill and three aces.

BRAZIL

On Dec. 22, outside hitter Roni Jones Perry and SESC RJ Flamengo (7-1) beat middle Brionne Butler and Osasco Sao Cristovao Saude (5-3), 3-1 (16-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-18). Jones Perry led all scorers with 19 points on 18 kills and one block. Butler scored seven points on five kills and two blocks. U.S. middle Callie Schwarzenbach added seven points on four kills and three blocks.

FRANCE

Opposite Taylor Mims and Nantes (12-1) lead the league and got another win on Dec. 30, beating second-place Vandoeuvre Nancy 3-1 (10-25, 25-19, 25-9, 25-20). Mims led all scorers with 17 points on 15 kills and two blocks. U.S. middle Jaelyn Keene added seven points on two kills, three blocks and two aces.

For Nancy, outside hitter Breana Runnels scored 15 points on 14 kills and one block. Opposite Haylie Bennett scored 11 points on 10 kills and one block. Outside hitter Katelyn Evans totaled 11 points on 10 kills and one block.

TÜRKIYE

The Turkish league will resume play on Jan. 5-7.

JAPAN

The Japanese league will resume on Jan. 7.

ROMANIA

The Romanian league has not announced its match schedule for 2024.