In the high-energy world of volleyball, athletes continue to shine across various leagues, and Monday’s action in Athletes Unlimited (AU) Volleyball showcased two standout stars: Brittany Abercrombie and Bethania De La Cruz-Mejia. With two weeks remaining in the five-week AU season, Abercrombie and De La Cruz-Mejia are pulling away from the competition. Alongside the ever-reliable Morgan Hentz and rising star Leketor Member-Meneh, these four players are set to be captains again in week four of AU Volleyball. But they aren’t just standing out on paper; Monday’s matches provided a clear glimpse into their dominance on the court.
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In this report, we’ll dive into the latest AU action, recap Monday’s standout matches, and give you a snapshot of the latest happenings in NCAA Division I volleyball and professional leagues worldwide. This week, we also bring you our usual update on USA players excelling in international volleyball leagues.
Abercrombie, De La Cruz-Mejia Maintain AU Volleyball Leads
Brittany Abercrombie continues to lead the AU standings with a commanding 2,914 points after the conclusion of the third week. Following closely behind, Bethania De La Cruz-Mejia sits with 2,709 points, keeping the competition fierce. Libero Morgan Hentz jumped up four spots, securing third place with 2,021 points, an impressive feat for a defensive specialist. These four players — Abercrombie, De La Cruz, Hentz, and Member-Meneh — will take the court as team captains for the upcoming matches on Friday, Sunday, and Monday.
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The action began Monday with Team Member-Meneh claiming victory over Team Drews, 76-59. Madi Kingdon Rishel led Team Member-Meneh with 14 kills, while Kayla Haneline contributed nine kills and a standout seven solo blocks. The team’s defensive coordination and offensive firepower were on full display, setting the tone for the day’s competitive spirit.
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The night’s second match, featuring a head-to-head between Abercrombie and De La Cruz-Mejia, was one for the books. Abercrombie’s squad emerged victorious in a nail-biting 75-72 win, despite a late surge from De La Cruz’s team. The match ended with a thrilling first-to-five tiebreaker after both teams tied at 70-70. Abercrombie’s 19 kills, backed by Temi Thomas-Ailara’s 14, sealed the win, but not without a fight from De La Cruz, who posted an equally impressive 19 kills. Both stars showcased their incredible offensive and defensive skills, reminding everyone why they’re the top players in AU Volleyball.
NCAA Volleyball: Monday Recap and Tuesday’s Action
Monday’s NCAA action was relatively quiet but still featured some key matches. No. 13 Arizona State swept Grand Canyon University (GCU) in their first meeting in 34 years. The Sun Devils extended their winning streak to seven matches, improving their record to 19-2, thanks to standout performances from Shania Cromartie and Geli Cyr, who combined for 25 kills. Argentina Ung was a force at the setter position, recording 33 assists, five kills, and three blocks.
In other NCAA action, Indiana State (4-17) finally secured its first conference win of the season by sweeping Evansville. Curry Kendall led the Sycamores with a blistering .529 hitting percentage, racking up 19 kills, while Giulia Cardona of Evansville continued to lead the NCAA in kills, adding another 26 to her tally.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, South Dakota State, the only remaining unbeaten team at 18-0, will defend its streak against South Dakota in what promises to be an intense Summit League showdown. Other notable matches include Denver hosting Oral Roberts and Milwaukee facing Marquette in a crosstown clash.
In the AVCA top 25, there were no major shakeups at the top. Pittsburgh remains No. 1 with 50 first-place votes, followed by Nebraska and Penn State. North Carolina broke into the rankings for the first time this season at No. 25, while Auburn dropped out.
American Women Playing Internationally: Making Waves Abroad
While some of the best American players have stayed home to compete in leagues like LOVB and the Pro Volleyball Federation, many former NCAA standouts continue to shine overseas. In Italy, Simone Lee had a stellar performance for Vallefoglia, hitting .533 with 10 kills in a sweep over Busto Arzio. Khalia Lanier added seven kills and two aces for Conegliano in their latest victory, keeping her team undefeated.
In Türkiye, Julia Sangiacomo posted a season-high 15 kills for SigortaShop, but it wasn’t enough to overcome defending champions Fenerbahce. Meanwhile, Dana Rettke delivered eight kills and a block for Eczacibasi as they swept Sariyera.
In Japan, it was a battle of Minnesota Gophers alums as Airi Miyabe and Stephanie Samedy faced off. Miyabe’s Himeji edged out Samedy’s Hisamitsu Springs in two five-set thrillers, with both players putting up impressive numbers. Miyabe earned MVP honors in the first match with 14 kills and four blocks, while Samedy countered with 16 kills in the second match.
Over in Germany, Kira Thomsen had 12 kills, but her team, Erfurt, remains winless after falling to Munster. In France, Lauren Matthews powered Cannes to a five-set victory over Bordeaux with 17 kills and four blocks.
The Future of Volleyball Looks Bright
With standout performances in both AU and NCAA volleyball, and American stars continuing to dominate in international leagues, volleyball fans have much to be excited about. The action this week promises even more drama as top players battle for positioning, and we’ll be here to cover every moment. Whether it’s Abercrombie’s continued dominance in AU or NCAA teams fighting for conference glory, volleyball is delivering some of the most compelling sports action of 2024.
