Kim Hill attacking for Conegliano in the European Champions League quarterfinals
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 9, 2020) – The U.S. Women’s National Team has been preparing for the future by involving collegiate athletes into training camps with Team USA this spring and summer, while many current national team members are still competing overseas in pro leagues.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS: All 11 members of the U.S. Women’s National Team are competing the European Champions League this year and advanced to the quarterfinals. Imoco Volley Conegliano with Kim Hill and Chiaka Ogbogu has advanced to the semifinals with a win over Allianz MTV Stuttgart and subsequent cancellation of the return match in the quarterfinal home-and-home series. VakifBank with Michelle Bartsch-Hackley defeated Dinamo Moscow and Lauren Carlini in the opening quarterfinal round match and meet again on March 12. Last week’s quarterfinal round series with Kelsey Robinson and Jordan Thompson representing Fenerbahce versus Megan Courtney and Micha Hancock with Igor Gorgonzola Novara was postponed due to the coronavirus. The teams will now play back-to-back matches on March 18 and March 19 with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
SPRING TRAINING CAMP BRINGS IN COLLEGIANS WITH NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS: The U.S. Women’s National Team will hold a Spring Training Camp March 14-21 in Anaheim where 17 collegiate athletes will join current Team USA players in a week-long training. Further, the group will hold a public Red-Blue intrasquad scrimmage on March 20 at Santiango Canyon College with first serve at 7 p.m. PT. Admission is $7 for general admission, while youth 3-and-under will be admitted free. Tickets will go on sale at the door one hour prior to first serve.
BARTSCH-HACKLEY WITH VAKIFBANK IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (Champaign, Illinois) has transferred to VakifBank in the Turkish League and the European Champions League after finishing the Chinese League season with a third-place finish. In the European Champions League, VakifBank defeated Dinamo Moscow 25-13, 25-17, 25-17 on March 3 to open its home-and-home quarterfinal series. Bartsch-Hackley tallied nine points with eight kills and a block while handling 11 receptions. The teams conclude the series on March 12. In the Turkish League, VakifBank swept Galatasaray 25-23, 25-18, 25-20 on March 8. Match statistics are not available. VakifBank (20-1, 60 points), in first place in the Turkish League, concludes the regular season on March 15 against second-place Eczacibasi (20-1, 57 points).
ROBINSON, THOMPSON WITH FENERBAHCE IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter
KINGDON-RISHEL WITH THY IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Madi Kingdon Rishel (Phoenix, Arizona) is playing for Turk Hava Yollari (THY) in the Turkish League this winter. In the CEV Challenge Cup, THY swept its 4th Finals Round home-and-home series with Asko Linz-Steg with a 25-13, 25-15, 25-16 victory on March 4 in the return match in Turkey. Kingdon Rishel contributed nine kills, one block and one ace for 11 points while holding a 71 positive reception percent on 14 chances. THY now advances to the semifinals where it will meet Germany’s Dresdner on March 18 and March 25. In the Turkish League, THY lost to Aydin B.Sehir 25-18, 25-17, 25-20 on March 8. Kingdon Rishel provided 11 kills on 21 swings, one block and one ace for 13 points. She was credited with a 42 positive reception percent on 24 chances. THY (9-12, 31 points), now in seventh place, concludes the regular season on March 13 against eighth-place PTT (8-13, 26 points).
CARLINI WITH DINAMO MOSCOW IN RUSSIA LEAGUE: Setter Lauren Carlini (Aurora, Illinois) is playing for Dinamo Moscow in the Russia Super League and the European Champions League. In the European Champions League, Dinamo lost to Pool B winner VakifBank 25-13, 25-17, 25-17 on March 3 to open their home-and-home quarterfinal round series. The teams meet again on March 12 to conclude the series with the winner advancing to the semifinals. In the Russia Super League, Dinamo Moscow lost to Proton 25-17, 24-26, 23-25, 25-20, 15-12 on March 8 but still gained the series win after winning two of the first three sets of the match. Carlini started the opening three sets and led Dinamo to a 43.6 kill percent in the sets she played.
WONG-ORANTES WITH SCHWERIN IN GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Libero Justine Wong-Orantes (Cypress, California) is playing for SSC Palmberg Schwerin in the German Bundesliga this winter. In the CEV Cup, Schwerin swept its 4th Finals home-and-home series with Asterix Avo Beveren with a 25-13, 25-16, 25-14 victory on March 3 to advance to the semifinals. Wong-Orantes played in the second and third sets, recording three receptions and a 67 positive percent. Schwerin will meet the 4th Finals Round winner between Busto Arsizio and Dinamo Kazan, which was postponed last week due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, in the semifinals. In the German Bundesliga, Schwerin was upset by SSC Potsdam 26-28, 17-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-9 on March 7. Wong-Orantes played in the first four sets and record seven receptions. Schwerin (16-2, 47 points), which falls to second place, returns to action on March 10 against 11th-place Suhl (2-16) before meeting first-place Stuttgart (16-3, 49 points) on March 14 to end the regular season.
KADIE ROLFZEN WITH DRESDNER IN GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Outside hitter Kadie Rolfzen (Papillion, Nebraska) is playing for Dresdner in the German Bundesliga and the CEV Challenge Cup. In the CEV Challenge Cup, Dresdner defeated AO Thiras Santorini 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 25-12 on March 4 in the 4th Finals Round return match in Germany to force a golden set. Dresdner answered the challenge with a thrilling 15-13 victory to advance to the semifinals. Rolfzen totaled 17 points with 13 kills on 31 swings and four blocks. She was credited with a 57 positive reception percent on 37 chances. Dresdner now meets Turkey’s THY in a home-and-home semifinal series with matches on March 18 and March 25. In the German Bundesliga, Dresdner defeated Straubing 25-17, 20-25, 25-20, 25-14 on March 7. Rolfzen picked up nine kills on 24 swings, two blocks and an ace for 12 points. She was credited with a 43 positive reception percent on 28 chances. Dresdner (10-9, 31 points), in fourth place, returns to German Bundesliga action on March 14 against ninth-place Wiesbaden (5-13, 18 points).
WILHITE PARSONS WITH SESI BAURU IN BRAZILIAN SUPERLIGA: Outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons (Eden Prairie, Minnesota) is competing for Sesi Bauru in the Brazilian Superliga this winter. Bauru swept Valinhos 25-15, 25-23, 25-10 on March 3. Wilhite Parsons pocketed nine points with eight kills on 19 swings and a block. She handled 19 receptions in the victory. Bauru lost to league-leader Dentil Praia Clube 21-25, 25-13, 25-15, 19-25, 15-13 on March 6. Wilhite Parsons totaled seven points with six kills on 19 swings and a block while holding a 54 positive reception percent on 26 chances. Bauru (12-9, 40 points), currently in fourth place, returns to action on March 10 against last-place Sao Cristovao Saude Sao Caetano (1-20, 7 points) to conclude the regular season.
JONES-PERRY WITH E.LECLERC RADOMKA IN POLISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Roni Jones-Perry (West Jordan, Utah) has transferred to Poland’s E.Leclerc Radomka in the Polish League after playing with Brescia earlier this year in the Italian Serie A1. Radomka plays Energa MKS Kalisz in the ninth-place home-and-home series on March 14 and March 21.
BENSON WITH NUC IN SWISS LEAGUE: Libero Amanda Benson (Litchfield Park, Arizona) is playing for Viteos Neuchatel UC in the Swiss League and CEV Cup this winter along with American teammates Tia Scambray (Dana Point, California) and Kyra Holt (Hercules, California). Neuchatel is in the Swiss semifinals where it has matches with VC Kanti Schafthausen on March 18, March 21 and March 25.
WASHINGTON, LOWE WITH BUSTO ARSIZIO IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Middle Haleigh Washington (Colorado Springs, Colorado) and opposite Karsta Lowe (Rancho Santa Fe, California) are playing for Unet E-Work Busto Arsizio in the Italian Serie A1 and CEV Cup this winter. In the Italian Serie A1 regular season, Busto Arsizio had its fourth consecutive match postponed due to the influx of coronavirus cases in Italy. The league has stated that all league matches are now suspended until further notice. In the CEV Cup 4th Finals Round, Busto Arsizio had its March 4 contest with Dinamo Kazan postponed due to the coronavirus. According to the CEV, the teams will make up the missed date on March 11 in Busto Arsizio behind closed doors. Busto Arsizio must win the match plus the golden set to the advance to the semifinals.
COURTNEY, HANCKOCK WITH NOVARA IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Libero/outside hitter Megan Courtney (Dayton, Ohio) and setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Oklahoma) are playing for Igor Gorgonzola Novara in the Italian Serie A1 and European Champions League this winter. In European Champions League, Novara had its home-and-home quarterfinal round opener against Turkey’s Fenerbahce postponed on March 5 due to the coronavirus threat in Italy. According to the latest information provided by the CEV, the two teams will play matches on March 18 and March 19 behind closed doors without fans. In the Italian Serie A1 regular season, Novara had its fourth consecutive match postponed due to a recent outbreak of coronavirus in Italy. The league has stated that all league matches are now suspended until further notice. (13-6, 38 points) is now in fourth place.
POULTER WITH CHIERI IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Setter Jordyn Poulter (Aurora, Colorado) is competing for Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri in the Italian Serie A1 for the 2019-20 pro season along with American Amber Rolfzen (Papillion, Nebraska). Chieri had its fourth consecutive match postponed due to recent coronavirus outbreaks in Italy. The league has stated that all league matches are now suspended until further notice. Chieri (8-11, 27 points) is in seventh place.
PLUMMER WITH MONZA IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Kathryn Plummer (Aliso Viejo, California) has signed her first professional contract to play for Saugella Monza in the Italian Serie A1. In the Italian Serie A1, Monza has had its last three matches postponed due to the recent coronavirus outbreak in Italy. The league has stated that all league matches are now suspended until further notice. Monza (12-8, 36 points) is in fifth place.
FOECKE WITH FIRENZE IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (West Point, Iowa) is playing for Il Bisonte Firenze in the Italian Serie A1 for the 2019-2020 season. Firenze has had its last three matches postponed due to influx of coronavirus cases in Italy. The league has stated that all league matches are now suspended until further notice. Firenze (8-12, 24 points) is in ninth place.
CUTTINO WITH CASALMAGGIORE IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Opposite Danielle Cuttino (Indianapolis, Indiana) is playing for Epiu Pomi Casalmaggiore in the Italian Serie A1 during the 2019-2020 pro season. Casalmaggiore had has had its last three matches postponed due to the rise of coronavirus cases in Italy. The league has stated that all league matches are now suspended until further notice. Casalmaggiore (11-9, 34 points) is in sixth place.