Leonardo Colli still captain

The captain of the Kemas Lamipel 2022-23, by Vincenzo Mastrangelo, will again be Leonardo Colli, the number 7, the hitter-receiver who became a symbol of Lupi at only 26 years old. The boy’s arrival in S. Croce sull’Arno dates back to 2014-15. Coming from the men’s Serie C of Valdera Volley, born in 1996, 195 cm, the spiker-receiver born in Pontedera looks out at Pala Parenti to play in the then Biokimica, militant in the national B1 championship. Alessandro Pagliai at the time held the dual role of coach and sports director and was in practice “the architect” of the incoming operation. The team qualified for the play-offs that year, but left immediately by Montecchio. The following season is the turning point. Not on the pitch (the team finishes seventh in B1), but at the corporate level: new members enter, the sponsor changes (Kemas Lamipel) and the A2 series is acquired by Parrella Torino. Leonardo begins to make his way in the prestigious category: in 2016-17 he put together 66 tokens between entries and appearances as a starter and… 66 points (9 aces). The team entrusted to Lorenzo Bertini qualifies for the promotion but does not reach the play-offs. The following year is that of the explosion, of Leonardo and of the team: with Michele Totire on the bench and Wagner great driver, the Kemas Lamipel conquers two second places, in the regular season and in Pool A, suffering however an early elimination in the play- off, by Spoleto. Colli plays 101 sets (!) In 27 games, takes home 30 aces and scores 184 points. 2017-18 is the first year in red and white for play Acquarone, Colli’s faithful companion in all these A2 M Credem Banca championships. The hitter faces this and subsequent seasons in a continuous crescendo, always oscillating around the 250 points scored and maintaining an undisputed ownership. In 2019, on the eve of the season then blocked in the middle due to the pandemic, he was appointed captain of Lupi. Coach Cezar Douglas, leader of that team, commented: “We decided to appoint him for a combination of characteristics he has: identity with society, he is an example of a worker and has personality in times of difficulty.” The next season 2022-23 will therefore be for Leonardo the ninth in a row in the red and white jersey, the seventh in an A2 championship, the fourth as captain: enough and more to be defined “flag” of this team and this club, with the hope that this long love story can continue for a long time and with ever greater gratifications.