This is the final of our weekly stories for the 2022-23 professional ladies’s volleyball season. For all of the stories and different options about USA ladies enjoying professional, click on on this hyperlink:
Canadian Alexa Gray, who was a 2015 Volleyball journal second-team All-American for BYU, may most likely get elected as mayor Conegliano, Italy.
That’s as a result of on Monday the 6-foot-2 exterior hitter from Calgary got here into the fifth match of the best-of-five Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile sequence and placed on an offensive present.
Gray had 22 kills, hit .626, and was named MVP after Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano defeated Vero Volley Milano 23-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-21.
It was the fifth Italian league title in a row for Conegliano.
“I don’t remember much, I’m completely blacked out!” Gray mentioned. “I’m so proud of the team and happy to have helped through a difficult time.”
In the second set, Conegliano trailed 18-12, was nonetheless down 20-17 after which rallied from a 23-21 deficit behind Gray, who additionally completed with two blocks and an ace. She got here into the match for Stanford’s Kathryn Plummer, who had 4 kills and a block.
Swede Isabelle Haak led Conegliano with 24 kills and a block. The different American on the successful staff, Olympian and Nebraska product Kelsey Robinson Cook, had seven kills, 4 blocks and an ace.
Milano obtained a spectacular efficiency from injured reverse Jordan Thompson, the previous Cincinnati star who, regardless of a closely wrapped leg, had 31 kills and an ace. American teammate and fellow USA Olympian Jordan Larson of Nebraska had 9 kills. Former Wisconsin star Dana Rettke had a kill and a block in a short look in set three. Milano misplaced within the closing for the second straight yr.
This was an thrilling, shut sequence all through. Conegliano gained the primary match 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 25-11, which was in our report final week.
In the second match, Milano gained 25-22, 25-23, 25-18 as Thompson had 17 kills and two aces. Larson had eight kills and an ace. Robinson Cook had three kills and an ace, whereas Plummer was restricted to one kill.
Milano took a 2-1 sequence lead with a 25-21, 14-25, 20-25, 27-25, 15-13 victory. Thompson continued to lead, this time with 24 kills, three blocks and an ace. Larson added seven kills and two aces, together with a key one close to the top of set 4. Plummer led Conegliano with 25 kills and three blocks. Robinson Cook completed with 11 kills and an ace. Haak had 20 kills, three blocks and an ace.
Conegliano bounced again in a big method with a 26-24, 25-20, 25-17 sweep to arrange a winner-take-all fifth match. Plummer had 11 kills and Robinson Cook six. Thompson left in the course of the second set. She and Larson had six kills every.
“Thanks to Gray for being ready,” Conegliano coach Daniele Santarelli mentioned. “She performed an unimaginable sport and helped us in a second of nice problem. I by no means anticipated such a high-level efficiency. We gained a loopy closing sequence.
“I congratulate Milan. They did what they could, making the best use of every opportunity. We didn’t play to our full potential, but in the end what matters is bringing home the trophy and we’ve done it four times this year. I’m really happy, especially for these fantastic fans. Competing at these sports halls, both here and in Monza, created incredible emotions that give dreams to all the fans, especially the little ones.”
Plummer, Robinson Cook, Larson, Thompson and Rettke will all head to the USA gymnasium in Anaheim and are on the Volleyball Nations League 30-player roster.
Turkey
VakifBank earned third place within the Turkish league by beating THY 25-20, 25-27, 25-11, 25-19. Chiaka Ogbogu had 5 kills (1.000) and two kills in a two-set look. Kara Bajema added seven kills, a block and an ace whereas enjoying three units. Madi Kingdon Rishel had six kills in three units for THY, which completed fourth for the second straight season.
Nilufer gained the higher hand within the sequence for fifth place by defeating Galatasaray 25-20, 25-13, 23-25, 25-19. Brooke Nuneviller was the highest scorer for Nilufer with 16 kills and two aces. Sherridan Atkinson added 12 kills and a block. Logan Eggleston was Galatasaray’s second-top scorer with 12 kills.
Nilufer then beat Galatasaray 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23 to win the sequence. Atkinson led Nilufer with 18 kills and three blocks. Nuneviller completed with 12 kills as Nilufer earned its finest end in 10 years. Eggleston led all scorers with 17 kills (.500), 4 blocks, and an ace for Galatasaray.
Germany
Stuttgart gained its second German league title in a row by beating Potsdam 20-25, 25-12, 25-19, 27-25. Simone Lee was the highest scorer with 21 kills, two blocks and an ace. Krystal Rivers added 17 kills and two blocks.
CEV Champions League
The closing membership match of the 2022-23 season is Saturday when VakifBank performs Eczacibasi within the closing at 11:30 a.m. Eastern.
