The Japanese star outside hitter scored 20 points and helped her team produce a reverse sweep against Scandicci to dominate the preseason tournament.
Igor Gorgonzola Novara commenced their 2025-2026 season with a resounding success this past weekend, conquering three of their primary rivals from the Lega Volley Femminile Serie A1 to claim the Courmayeur Cup preseason tournament title on Saturday.
The second annual event, hosted in the picturesque Italian city of Courmayeur, brought together an elite quartet of teams: Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano, Numia Vero Volley Milano, Savino Del Bene Scandicci, and Novara – the top four contenders from the previous 2024-2025 Italian League season.
Following their decisive four-set victory over reigning champions Conegliano in Friday`s semifinals, Novara executed an even more spectacular comeback in Saturday`s final. Trailing by two sets, they mounted a thrilling reverse sweep to defeat Scandicci 3-2 (21-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-23, 15-13), thereby securing the coveted championship.
Japan`s national team captain, Mayu Ishikawa, proved to be the pivotal force behind Novara`s remarkable rally, contributing a team-best 20 points, all from powerful kills. American opposite Taylor Mims made a significant impact off the bench, adding 15 points (14 kills, one block), while her compatriot and middle blocker Amber Igiede, alongside German outside hitter Lina Alsmeier, each chipped in 11 points.
“This tournament offered our first chance to field a full squad against formidable opponents,” stated head coach Lorenzo Bernardi. “The team`s response was exceptionally positive. While these matches don`t contribute to the Italian League standings, securing a win always boosts team morale and confirms we`re on the right path with our training. The players demonstrated remarkable fighting spirit and noticeable improvement from day one to day two. Nevertheless, it remains a preseason event, and we must stay grounded, as we haven`t yet achieved any truly significant victories.”
For Scandicci, Olympic and world champion opposite Ekaterina Antropova was the top scorer with an impressive 26 points (22 kills, two blocks, two aces). New signing, American outside hitter Avery Skinner, also performed strongly, tallying 17 points, including 16 kills and one block.
Conegliano Secures Bronze
Last year`s champions, Conegliano, had to settle for third place this year. After their semifinal defeat to Novara on Friday, they bounced back strongly to overcome Milano 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-14) in Saturday`s bronze medal match. Opposite Isabelle Haak led the charge with 21 points (18 kills, three blocks), supported by outside hitter Gabriela `Gabi` Guimarães, who added 16 points (14 kills, two blocks).
“It`s wonderful to be back in Courmayeur for the second consecutive year,” commented Gabi. “This tournament is crucial for us to assess our current form and identify areas for improvement, especially when competing against the nation`s top teams. We didn`t perform optimally in the semifinals, but we delivered a better showing today, despite making a few too many errors in the third set. However, that`s precisely the purpose of preseason – to experiment with different lineups and evaluate players. The upcoming season promises to be challenging, and expectations are high. I believe all three teams participating here are stronger than last year, so we`ll need to redouble our efforts if we aim to defend our Italian League title.”
Milano`s standout opposite, Paola Egonu, was their highest scorer with 14 points (13 kills, one ace), while American outside hitter Khalia Lanier contributed 11 points, all from kills.
The 2025-2026 season of the Italian League is scheduled to commence on October 6, with all seven opening-round matches taking place on that day.
Oliver Wrenwick