Ishikawa pushes Firenze to reverse sweep as they claim the last Coppa Italia berth

With Il Bisonte Firenze claiming their spot in dramatic fashion, the lineup for the 46th edition of the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa was set on Saturday, when the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà concluded its first leg of the season.

The top eight teams in the standings after the first 13 regular season matches of the Italian League will play for the Cup title shortly, with the quarterfinals taking place on January 24 and the Final Four going to Trieste from February 17-18.

• Watch Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1 matches live on VBTV.

Firenze started the day outside the qualification zone and it looked like they wouldn’t make it after they dropped the first two sets of their road match against Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo, but, inspired by an outstanding performance of Japanese outside hitter Mayu Ishikawa, they came back to win 3-2 (21-25, 17-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-9).

The 23-year-old Japanese was Firenze’s second-best scorer with 19 points (18 kills, one block) and took home the MVP award. Also having great performances for the winners were opposite Anastasiia Kraiduba, with a match-high 21 points (19 kills, one block, one ace), and outside hitter Lina Alsmeier, who added 17 (16 kills, one block).

“We were already very happy to have won the match after such an amazing comeback, but we got even more excited when we found out we had qualified,” said libero Giulia Leonardi. “We were very tense at the start and it wasn’t looking good at all after set two, but then we started to play at our level. Nothing was working for us at the start and I’m very proud of the team because it’s very hard to come back from a scenario like that.”

As the eighth-best-ranked team in the Italian League with 16 points (six wins, seven losses), Firenze will meet leaders Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano in the quarterfinals. The Panthers got to 38 points (13 wins) and continue undefeated after they topped Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18) with 13 points (12 kills, one ace) from star opposite Isabelle Haak.

Roma lose, but move forward

Roma Volley Club were the other team to book their tickets to the Coppa Italia in the last day possible. The side from the Italian capital advanced in seventh place with 17 points (six wins, seven losses) even after their 3-0 (25-10, 33-31, 25-14) loss to Igor Gorgonzola Novara.

They will face second-placed Allianz Vero Volley Milano, who got to 34 points (12 wins, one loss) after they defeated Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-10), ending their dreams of making it to the Coppa Italia. Star opposite Paola Egonu had a match-high 20 points, with 17 kills and three blocks.

Savino Del Bene Scandicci rank third with 32 points (11 wins, two losses) after their 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-14) victory against Volley Bergamo 1991 and will battle Wash4Green Pinerolo, who topped Itas Trentino 3-2 (17-25, 25-17, 26-24, 24-26, 22-20) and are sixth with 20 points (six wins, seven losses).

The fourth and last Coppa Italia quarterfinal encounter will have fourth-placed Novara (30 points) and fifth-placed Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri, who got to 25 (eight wins, five losses) with their 3-1 (25-17, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16) road win over Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore.

The second leg of the Lega Femminile will begin in just three days, with seven matches taking place on Tuesday, December 26.

Quick links:
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