In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Canadian volleyball sensation Alexa Gray delivered an outstanding performance in the final of the Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile to lead Imoco Prosecco Doc Conegliano to glory and earn the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.  

The final between Imoco - aka the Panthers - and Vero Volley Millan will forever be remembered as the day Gray’s entrance onto the court changed the course of the game. Coming on with her team a set down and on the brink of losing the second (11-17), the talented outside hitter wasted no time in making her presence felt.

Check out the full highlights from Imoco’s unbelievable comeback led by Alexa Gray

She put away seven points towards a furious comeback, including the set winner in overtime, to take the set 26-24 against all odds. Her immediate impact saw the momentum swing in the Panthers favour, as the club raced ahead to a 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-21) victory after two hours of play. The Canadian superstar produced a staggering 25 points and a 65% success rate in attack in less than three sets.

As the final whistle blew, signalling Imoco’s victory, the Panthers’ celebration erupted with thunderous applause from their devoted fans. The triumph marked Imoco's fifth consecutive and sixth overall national title, cementing their status as a dominant force in Italian volleyball.

Alexa Gray celebrates the Panthers sixth national title with her teammates (credit: Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile)

Among the celebrations, it was Alexa Gray who stood out as the undeniable star of the match. Her unrivalled contributions and game-changing performance earned her the prestigious MVP award, a testament to her extraordinary talent, hard work and undeniable impact on the outcome of the game.

“I don't remember much, I'm completely blacked out!” an elated Alexa Gray said after the final match. “I'm so proud of the team and happy to have helped through a difficult time.”

Beyond the highs of club volleyball success, Gray is also a key member of a Canadian women’s national team that is on the rise. The team is benefitting from an ongoing targeted support project via the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme and is fast improving its performance at the international level.

Volleyball Canada President Mark Eckert said:

“It's great to see Alexa and her team win the championship in Italy and for her to be named MVP.  She is a key member of our senior national team and it's always a pleasure to see Canadian athletes performing at a high level in top professional leagues.”

Head Coach of the Canada women’s national team, Shannon Winzer, commented:

“Alexa’s performance in the Italian final was incredible. To come in off the bench and make that kind of impact in such a key moment like that speaks to her level of skill, talent and competitiveness. Alexa also showcased what it means to always be ready to come in and do your job. It was outstanding to watch and we’re very proud of her. We are looking forward to welcoming Alexa back to our team for the first week of the VNL and showcasing more of what we saw in the final with Imoco.

"The VNL is always tough because of the short turn around time between club season and week 1, but as a challenger team we must be able to perform from the start. We have a good preparation planned prior to Türkiye with practice matches against Italy and Croatia in the lead up. After a strong showing at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship last October, we are looking to build on last year’s VNL performances and push into the top 8 this year.”