COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 15, 2020) – Men’s volleyball competition has returned in Germany as American Cody Kessel helped the Berlin Recycling Volleys to a 3-0 victory over United Volleys Frankfurt in the SuperCup on Oct. 11.
Kessel played at opposite in place of his U.S. teammate Ben Patch, who is still recovering from injury. Kessel scored 11 points on nine kills and two blocks. U.S. libero Kyle Dagostino played one set for Frankfurt.
FRANCE
Regular-season play in the French league began Oct. 10.
Cannes, with middle blocker Taylor Averill, has a 3-0 record. On Oct. 10, Cannes beat Montpellier, 3-0 (28-26, 26-24, 26-24). Averill scored seven points on five kills and two blocks.
Chaumont, with middle blocker Dan McDonnell, is 2-1. On Oct. 10, Chaumont fell to Narbonne, 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 15-25, 15-12). McDonnell started the final four sets and scored 13 points on nine kills, one block and three aces.
Setter Micah Ma’a and Poitiers are 2-0. On Oct. 6, Poitiers beat Sete 3-2 (25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 18-25, 17-15). Ma’a scored seven points on three kills, three aces and one block. He set the team to a .420 hitting efficiency.
ITALY
Two matches scheduled to be played Oct. 14 had to be postponed due to COVID cases. These were the match between Igor Gorgonzola Novara (which includes Hayleigh Washington and Micha Hancock) and Bosca C. Bernardo Cuneo and the match between Unet E-Work Busto Arsizio (including Jordyn Poulter) and Banca Valsabbina Millenium Brescia.
In other women’s matches in Italy, Megan Courtney started two sets at outside hitter and scored three points on two kills and a block as her team Savino Del Bene Scandicci beat Vbc Èpiù Casalmaggiore, 3-1 (12-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19) on Oct. 14.
Middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan played as a substitute and scored a point as her team Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri beat Saugella Monza, 3-2 (25-15, 24-26, 25-19, 22-25, 16-14).
On the men’s side, Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Velentia, with outside hitter T.J. DeFalco beat NBV Verona with outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke, 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-11) on Oct. 14. DeFalco scored 14 points on 12 kills and two blocks and was credited with 19 receptions, 68 percent positive. Jaeschke played as a substitute.
Vero Volley Monza with middle blocker Max Holt beat Kioene Padova with setter Kawika Shoji, 3-2 (26-28, 15-25, 25-12, 26-24, 16-14) on Oct. 14. Holt scored five points on five kills. Shoji scored five points on two kills, two blocks and one ace.
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, with outside hitter Aaron Russell and opposite James Shaw, fell to Cucine Lube Civitanova on Oct. 14, 31-29, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23. Russell led all scorers with 23 points on 20 kills and three blocks. Shaw played as a substitute.
TURKEY
Eczacıbaşı VitrA, with opposite Jordan Thompson and middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu continues to lead the league. On Oct. 13, the team defeated middle blocker Rachael Adams and Aydin B.Şehir Bld., 3-1 (25-14, 20-25, 25-18, 25-18). Thompson scored 15 points on 11 kills, three blocks and one ace. Ogbogu added 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks.
Adams scored 10 points for her team on seven kills and three blocks.
Outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons and opposite Willow Johnson helped Nilüfer Bld. to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-14) win over Karayollari on Oct. 13.
Parsons scored 15 points on 14 kills and one ace. Johnson scored 13 points on nine kills, two blocks and two aces. Outside hitter Symone Abbot played as a substitute for Karayollari.
Türk Hava Yolları with setter Lauren Carlini and outside hitter Madi Kingdon Rishel fell to Fenerbahçe Opet, 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-19) on Oct. 13.
Kingdon scored seven points on seven kills. Carlini added four points on three kills and one block.
POLAND
Several matches in Poland’s men’s league have had to be postponed due to players and/or staff catching COVID-19.
Middle blocker David Smith and Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle continue to lead the league with an 8-0 record. On Oct. 10, Kędzierzyn-Koźle beat Indykpol AZS Olsztyn, 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 17-25, 25-16).
Smith scored eight points on six kills and two blocks.
Outside hitter Garrett Muagututia and Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie beat outside hitter Brenden Sander and Cerrad Enea Czarni Radom, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22) on Oct. 10.
Muagututia scored 12 points on 11 kills and one block. Sander finished with 11 points on nine kills and two blocks.
Middle blocker Jeff Jendryk and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów beat Stal Nysa, 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-12) on Oct. 10. Jendryk started the first two sets but did not score.
Setter Josh Tuaniga and Ślepsk Malow Suwałki beat Cuprum Lubin, 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-20). Tuaniga scored three points on a kill and two aces. He set his team to a .422 hitting efficiency.