Ishikawa guides Firenze to second-straight victory

After two consecutive losses to start the season, Il Bisonte Firenze seen to be finding their form in the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A.

The team from Tuscany secured its first road win of the season and its second consecutive triumph, topping Itas Trentino 3-1 (25-18, 25-13, 17-25, 25-21) on Sunday and managed to move up to fifth place in the standings with seven points.

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

The team’s main signing for the season, Japanese star outside hitter Mayu Ishikawa had her third-straight match with 15 points or more, leading her teammates with 18 points (17 kills, one block). Also producing at a good volume for Firenze were Swedish opposite Rebecka Lazic and German outside hitter Lina Alsmeier, with 16 and 12 points, respectively.

“Bringing the three points home today was the most important thing and I’m happy that we did it,” said setter Illaria Battistoni. “We played very well in the first two sets, but still made way too many errors and that’s something we need to improve. Trentino started to play better in the third set and put pressure on us, but we reacted well in the fourth set. I also thought we served well and they had some issues with their passing, which made things easier for us.”

Trentino’s American opposite Carly De Hoog was the match’s top scorer with 20 points (all in kills), while Russian outside hitter Yana Shcherban added 13 for their side.

Novara continue unbeaten

Also on Sunday, Igor Gorgonzola Novara became the first team to get to four victories in the Italian League with their 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-21) sweep of Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio. Russian opposite Vita Akimova led her team’s efforts with 21 points (18 kills, three blocks), helped by Dutch outside hitter Anne Buijs, who tallied 15 (14 kills, one block).

“We’re very pleased by the result,” Akimova reflected. “I think we played very well and worked as a team, especially in the third set, when we were behind. The ability to react we showed is a great sign for our future.”

Lega Femminile - Match Schedule and Results

The biggest upset of the weekend had Wash4Green Pinerolo in the spotlight as they went to Pesaro and got a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-17) win over Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia, who had won their last two matches. Romanian outside hitter Adelina Budai-Ungureanu topped all scorers with 17 points (16 kills, one ace).

Also winning in the fourth week of action of the season were Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo, who got a dramatic 3-2 (25-20, 17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14) road win over Volley Bergamo 1991 on Saturday, and Savino Del Bene Scandicci, who triumphed 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22) at home against Trasportipensati Casalmaggiore on Sunday.

Wednesday will be a busy day in the Lega Femmninile as, for the first time in the season, the Italian League will feature a midweek round, with seven matches taking place during the day.

Quick links:
Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1
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