COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 9, 2020) – Kim Hill and Chiaka Ogbogu helped Conegliano advance to the quarterfinals of the European Champions League with a win last week. Meanwhile, Kelsey Robinson has provided three tips to help young players dominate in matches in the current U.S. Women’s National Team weekly update.
KELSEY ROBINSON PROVIDES TIPS FOR DOMINATING YOUR NEXT MATCH: Kelsey Robinson, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team and now playing pro overseas with Turkey’s Fenerbahce, has three basic tips that she has relied on to help her dominate in matches. 1. Game day starts before game day; 2. Use serve and pass or warmup to get in rhythm; 3. It’s ok to be nervous. To hear her thoughts, click here.
OGBOGU, HILL WITH CONEGLIANO IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Middle Chiaka Ogbogu (Coppell, Texas, Instagram, Twitter) and outside hitter Kim Hill (Portland, Oregon, Instagram) are playing in the Italian Serie A1 and European Champions League for Imoco Volleyball Conegliano this winter. In European Champions League, Conegliano remained undefeated in Pool D by defeating Vasas Obuda Budapest 25-12, 25-19, 25-13 on Feb. 6. Ogbogu scored seven kills on 11 attacks, two blocks and two aces for 11 points en route to being named match MVP. Hill did not play in the match. Conegliano (5-0, 14 points) has clinched the top seed from Pool D before concluding the group stage against second-place Nantes (3-2, 9 points) on Feb. 18 in the final leg. In the Italian Serie A1 regular season, Conegliano swept Golden Tulip Volalto 2.0 Caserta 25-9, 25-15, 25-9 on Feb. 9. Ogbogu totaled seven kills on 10 swings and a block for eight points. Hill did not play against the Italian Serie A1 last-place team. Conegliano (16-1, 48 points), which is in first place with a six-point lead, returns to action on Feb. 12 against Zanetti Bergamo followed by a Feb. 16 match against third-place Igor Gorgonzola Novara (12-5, 35 points).
WASHINGTON, LOWE WITH BUSTO ARSIZIO IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Middle Haleigh Washington (Colorado Springs, Colorado, Instagram, Twitter) and opposite Karsta Lowe (Rancho Santa Fe, California, Instagram) are playing for Unet E-Work Busto Arsizio in the Italian Serie A1 and CEV Cup this winter. In the CEV Cup, Busto Arsizio lost to Poland’s Developres SkyRes Rzesczow 25-20, 25-23, 27-25 in the CEV Cup 8th Finals Round home-and-home series on Feb. 5 prompting a golden set as both teams won on their home court. Busto Arsizio came back to win the golden set 15-11 to earn a spot into the 4th Finals Round. Lowe collected 17 kills and a block for 18 points for Busto Arsizio. Washington added 10 kills on 15 errorless swings, two blocks and an ace for 13 points. Busto Arsizio now faces Dinamo Kazan in the home-and-home 4th Finals Round. In the Italian Serie A1 regular season, Busto Arsizio blanked third-place Igor Gorgonzola Novara 25-20, 28-26, 25-17 on Feb. 9. Lowe notched 16 points with 14 kills on 37 swings and two blocks. Washington added 12 kills on 14 swings and a block for 13 points. Busto Arsizio (14-3, 42 points), which remains in second place, faces 13th-place Bartoccini Fortinfissi Perugia (3-14, 10 points) on Feb. 12 followed by last-place Golden Tulip Volalto 2.0 Caserta (2-15, 8 points) on Feb. 16.
COURTNEY, HANCKOCK WITH NOVARA IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Libero/outside hitter Megan Courtney (Dayton, Ohio, Instagram) and setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Oklahoma, Instagram, Twitter) are playing for Igor Gorgonzola Novara in the Italian Serie A1 and European Champions League this winter. In European Champions League, Novara downed Khimik Yuzhny 25-14, 25-14, 25-12 on Feb. 4. Hancock set Novara to a 52 kill percent for the match and added three individual kills on four attacks, six aces and a block for 10 points. She was chosen as match MVP. Courtney did not play in the contest. Novara (4-1, 11 points), now in first place in Pool C, returns to action on Feb. 18 against Poland’s LKS Commercecon Lodz (3-2, 8 points). In the Italian Serie A1 regular season, Novara lost to second-place Unet E-Work Busto Arsizio 25-20, 28-26, 25-17 on Feb. 9. Hancock set Novara to a 37 kill percent and scored one block and a kill for two points. Courtney chipped in six kills and a 73 positive reception percent on 15 chances. Novara (12-5, 35 points), now in third place, plays fourth-place Savino Del Bene Scandicci (11-6, 33 points) on Feb. 12 followed by league-leader Imoco Volley Conegliano (16-1, 48 points) on Feb. 16.
POULTER WITH CHIERI IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Setter Jordyn Poulter (Aurora, Colorado, Instagram, Twitter) 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 defeated Il Bisonte Firenze 25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 25-20 on Feb. 9. Poulter set Chieri to a 50 kill percent in the victory. Rolfzen added six kills on 10 swings and two blocks for eight points. Chieri (7-10, 23 points), now in eighth-place, takes on 10th-place Bosca San Bernardo Cuneo (7-10, 20 points) on Feb. 12 followed by fourth-place Savino Del Bene Scandicci (11-6, 33 points) on Feb. 16.
PLUMMER WITH MONZA IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Kathryn Plummer (Aliso Viejo, California, Instagram, Twitter) has signed her first professional contract to play for Saugella Monza in the Italian Serie A1. In the CEV Cup, Monza lost to Russia’s Dinamo Kazan 25-16, 18-25, 25-20, 25-20 on Feb. 5 in the second home-and-home match of the 8th Finals Round to be eliminated from the playoffs. Plummer netted 13 kills on 33 swings, two blocks and an ace for 16 points in starting the first three sets. In the Italian Serie A1, Monza rallied to upset fourth-place Savino Del Bene Scandicci 15-25, 25-21, 25-27, 25-23, 15-9 on Feb. 9. Plummer scored one kill on three swings as a sub in the first four sets. Monza (9-8, 28 points), which moved up to fifth place, returns to action on Feb. 12 against last-place Golden Tulip Volalto 2.0 Caserta (2-15, 8 points) followed by 12th-place Lardini Filottrano (6-11, 16 points) on Feb. 16.
FOECKE WITH FIRENZE IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (West Point, Iowa, Instagram, Twitter) is playing for Il Bisonte Firenze in the Italian Serie A1 for the 2019-2020 season. Firenze lost to Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri 25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 25-20 on Feb. 9. Foecke, who started the first set and subbed in sets two and four, scored five kills on 18 swings. She was credited with a 57 positive reception percent on 14 chances. Firenze (8-9, 24 points), now in seventh place, plays 11th-place Banca Valsabbina Millenium Brescia (7-10, 18 points) on Feb. 12 followed by 10th-place Bosca San Bernardo Cuneo (7-10, 20 points) on Feb. 16.
CUTTINO WITH CASALMAGGIORE IN ITALIAN LEAGUE: Opposite Danielle Cuttino (Indianapolis, Indiana, Instagram, Twitter) is playing for Epiu Pomi Casalmaggiore in the Italian Serie A1 during the 2019-2020 pro season. Casalmaggiore lost to Zanetti Bergamo 18-25, 28-26, 25-23, 25-21 on Feb. 9. Cuttino pocketed 18 points with 15 kills on 38 swings, two blocks and an ace. Casalmaggiore (9-8, 28 points), now in sixth place, returns to action on Feb. 12 against 12th-place Lardini Filottrano (6-11, 16 points) followed by 11th-place Banca Valsabbina Millenium Brescia (7-10, 18 points) on Feb. 16.
ROBINSON, THOMPSON WITH FENERBAHCE IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Kelsey Robinson (Manhattan Beach, California, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Website) and Jordan Thompson (Edina, Minnesota, Instagram, Twitter) are playing for Fenerbahce in the Turkish League and European Champions League this winter. In the European Champions Cup, Fenerbahce lost to Turkish rival Eczacibasi 25-22, 16-25, 26-24, 20-25, 15-10 on Feb. 6 in a Pool A match. Thompson accounted for 22 points including 21 kills on 44 swings and an ace. Robinson added 13 kills on 38 attacks, one block and one ace for 15 points. She was credited with a 75 positive reception percent on 12 chances. Fenebahce (3-2, 11 points), now in second place, resumes action on Feb. 18 against LP Salo (0-5, 0 points). In the Turkish league, Fenerbahce blanked Galatasaray 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 on Feb. 9. Robinson connected for eight kills and three aces for 11 points while holding a 100 positive reception percent. Thompson collected 10 kills and a block for 11 points in the victory. Fenerbahce (13-2, 38 points), now in third place, challenges league-leader VakifBank (14-1, 42 points) on Feb. 12 followed by a Feb. 15 match against second-place Eczacibasi (14-1, 41 points).
BARTSCH-HACKLEY WITH VAKIFBANK IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (Champaign, Illinois, Instagram, Twitter) 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 swept then-Pool B leader Savino Del Benne Scandicci 28-26, 25-19, 25-21 on Feb. 5. Bartsch-Hackley scored 14 points in the victory. VakifBank (4-1, 12 points), now in the lead of Pool B, plays third-place Lokomotiv Kalingrad (2-3, 8 points) on Feb. 18 to wrap up the group phase. In the Turkish League, VakifBank downed Atlasglobal Yesilyurt 25-20, 25-17, 25-18 on Feb. 9. Bartsch-Hackley did not dress for the domestic league match that has foreigner limits. VakifBank (14-1, 42 points), in second place in the Turkish League, takes on third-place Fenerbahce (13-2, 38 points) on Feb. 12 followed by 12th-place Beylikduzu Voleybol (0-15, 0 points) on Feb. 15.
KINGDON-RISHEL WITH THY IN TURKISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Madi Kingdon Rishel (Phoenix, Arizona, Instagram, Twitter) is playing for Turk Hava Yollari (THY) in the Turkish League this winter. In the CEV Challenge Cup, THY clinched a spot into the 4th Finals Round by sweeping its home-and-home series with C.S.M. Lugoj with a 25-15, 25-12, 25-17 victory on Feb. 4. Match statistics are not available. THY will now face Asko Linz-Steg in a home-and-home 4th Finals Round series. In the Turkish League, THY defeated Beylikduzu Voleybol Ihtisas 25-12, 25-10, 25-12 on Feb. 9. Kingdon-Rishel led her team in scoring with five kills on 12 swings, three aces and two blocks for 10 points. THY (6-9, 21 points), now in seventh places, resumes action on Feb. 12 against ninth-place Nilufer BLD (5-10, 14 points) and Feb. 15 against 10th-place Karayollari (4-11, 16 points).
RIVERS, LEE, ROSENTHAL WITH STUTTGART IN GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Opposite Krystal Rivers (Birmingham, Alabama, Instagram, Twitter), opposite Simone Lee (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Instagram, Twitter) and middle Jenna Rosenthal (Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, Instagram, Twitter) are playing for Allianz MTV Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga and the European Champions League. Further, Americans Ainise Havili and Jennifer Hamson are playing for Stuttgart. In European Champions League, Stuttgart defeated LKS Commercecon Lodz 17-25, 28-26, 25-16, 25-18 on Feb. 5. Lee scored a team-high 19 points with 15 kills on 43 attacks and four blocks. Stuttgart (3-2, 10 points) is in second place in Pool C and returns to action on Feb. 18 against Khimik Yuzhny (0-5, 0 points). In the German Bundesliga, Stuttgart (11-3, 34 points), now in second place, returns to action on Feb. 12 against seventh-place Straubing (8-6, 21 points). In the German Cup, Stuttgart meets Dresdner on Feb. 16 in the title match.
WONG-ORANTES WITH SCHWERIN IN GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Libero Justine Wong-Orantes (Cypress, California, Instagram, Twitter) is playing for SSC Palmberg Schwerin in the German Bundesliga this winter. American Lauren Barfield is also a member of the team. In the CEV Cup 8th Finals Round, Schwerin defeated Hameelinnna 25-15, 25-15, 16-25, 25-12 on Feb. 6 to win both matches of the home-and-home series. Wong-Orantes handled 19 receptions with a 58 positive percent to help Schwerin to a 44 kill percent as a team. Schwerin now has advanced to the CEV Cup 4th Finals Round where it will face Asterix Avo Beveren in a home-and-home series. In the German Bundesliga, Schwerin swept USC Munster 25-15, 25-17, 25-19 on Feb. 9. Wong-Orantes was 80 percent positive on 15 receptions and helped her team to a 39 kill percent. Barfield added five kills on 12 errorless attacks and three blocks for eight points. Schwerin (13-1, 38 points), which leads the league, returns to action on Feb. 22 against fourth-place Dresdner (9-6, 26 points).
KADIE ROLFZEN WITH DRESDNER IN GERMAN BUNDESLIGA: Outside hitter Kadie Rolfzen (Papillion, Nebraska, Instagram, Twitter) is playing for Dresdner in the German Bundesliga and the CEV Challenge Cup. In the CEV Challenge Cup, Dresdner downed Stiinta Bacau 25-21, 25-19, 25-27, 25-14 on Feb. 5 to win both matches of its 8th Finals Round home-and-home series. Rolfzen, playing in just the first two sets, scored eight kills on 18 swings, three blocks and an ace for 12 points. Dresdner now advances to face Ao Thiras Santorini in the CEV Challenge Cup 4th Finals Round home-and-home series. In the German Bundesliga, Dresdner (9-6, 26 points), in fourth place, returns to German Bundesliga action on Feb. 12 against seventh-place Vilsbiburg (7-7, 22 points). In the German Cup, Dresdner meets Stuttgart on Feb. 16 in the title match.
SELIGER-SWENSON WITH BEZIERS IN FRENCH LEAGUE: Setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson (Minnetonka, Minnesota, Instagram, Twitter) is playing for Beziers in the French League and the CEV Challenge Cup along with American teammate Alexa Smith (Colorado Springs, Colorado). In the CEV Challenge Cup, Beziers edged Polkky Kuusamo 25-19, 27-25, 20-25, 24-26, 15-11 on Feb. 5 to advance to the 4th Fainsl Round. Seliger-Swenson set Beziers in the first two sets to a 31.7 kill percent and added one block, one ace and one kill. Smith, who started the final three sets after serving as a sub in the second set, powered down eight kills with two blocks and an ace for 11 points. Beziers will now face Aachen in the CEV Challenge Cup 4th Finals Round home-and-home series. In the French League, Beziers rallied to defeat then-league-leader Nantes 21-25, 25-21, 22-25, 26-24, 16-14 on Feb. 8. Seliger-Swenson set Beziers to a 46 kill percent and added one kill and one block for two points. Smith turned in one kill on one swing and was handled three receptions as a sub in the opening set. Beziers (15-5, 45 points), which is in fourth place, resumes French League action on Feb. 15 against 10th-place Terville Florange (7-13, 22 points).
WILHITE PARSONS WITH SESI BAURU IN BRAZILIAN SUPERLIGA: Outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons (Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Instagram, Twitter) is competing for Sesi Bauru in the Brazilian Superliga this winter. Bauru edged Sao Paulo FC/Barueri 21-25, 28-26, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12 on Feb. 4. Wilhite Parsons started the first two sets compiling three kills and an ace for four points. She was credited with a 50 positive reception percent on 16 chances. Bauru lost a heart-breaking match to second-place SESC RJ (15-1, 42 points) 25-21, 25-21, 19-25, 21-25, 18-16 on Feb. 7. Wilhite Parsons totaled 16 kills on 30 swings, one ace and one block for 18 points. She was credited with a 55 positive reception percent on 22 chances. Sesi Bauru (9-7, 31 points), currently in fifth place, returns to action on Feb. 11 against seventh-place C.R. Flamengo (7-9, 19 points) followed by a Feb. 15 match against fourth-place Osasco/Audax (13-3, 35 points).
CARLINI WITH DINAMO MOSCOW IN RUSSIA LEAGUE: Setter Lauren Carlini (Aurora, Illinois, Instagram, Twitter) is playing for Dinamo Moscow in the Russia Super League and the European Champions League. In the European Champions League, Dinamo Moscow defeated Russian-rival Uralochka-NTMK Ekaterinburg 25-20, 25-16, 25-23 on Feb. 6. Carlini was a sub in the third set. Dinamo Moscow (3-2, 9 points), in second place in Pool E, concludes the group phase against leader RC Cannes (3-2, 9 points) on Feb. 18. In the Russia Super League, Dinamo Moscow rallied to defeat Leningradka 21-25, 25-23, 12-25, 25-19, 15-10 on Feb. 9. Carlini started the second and third sets after subbing in the third, turning in one ace. Moscow (9-5, 28 points), now in fourth place, resumes action on Feb. 14 against seventh-place Dinamo Krasnodar (5-8, 15 points).
JONES-PERRY WITH E.LECLERC RADOMKA IN POLISH LEAGUE: Outside hitter Roni Jones-Perry (West Jordan, Utah, Instagram, Twitter) 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 lost to #VolleyWroclaw 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-17 on Feb. 8. Jones-Perry scored 13 kills on 35 swings and was credited with a 52 positive reception percent on 25 chances. Radomka (5-13, 14 points), now in 10th place, returns to action on Feb. 17 against ninth-place Bank Pocztowy Palace Bydgoszcz (5-11, 19 points).
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 lost to second-place Sm’Aesch Pfeffingen I 25-19, 25-22, 25-17 on Feb. 8. Benson was 60 percent positive on 15 chances. Scambray and Holt each scored 10 points in the loss. Neuchatel UC (14-4, 43 points) dropped from first to third place following the loss.