Cowley volleyball team signs middle hitter from Italy

The national champion Cowley College volleyball program has signed Laura Santangeletta from Bergamo, Italy, to begin her college career in the fall of 2024.

Santangeletta, a 5-foot-11 middle hitter, prepped at Liceo Scientifico L. Mascheroni in Bergamo, Italy. She began playing volleyball for Volley Excelsior Bergamo in 2011 at the age of seven. She played for the club until 2014, when she started to play for Foppapedretti Bergamo for their U12 and U13 teams. In 2016, she began to play for Pallavolo Celadina for their U13 and U14 teams. During her time with the program, she served as a setter. Santagngeletta moved to her final club team in 2018, when she played for Valpala Volley for their U16, U18, Serie D, Serie C, and Serie B2 teams. As a member of the program, she switched from setter to middle hitter, where she excelled even more on the court. In 2021, her U18 team finished third place and finished in the Provincial semi-final. The team also finished fourth place in Serie D. In 2022, her Serie C team went 22-2, finished in the Scudetto semi-final, and was promoted to Serie B2.

"Laura is an exciting player who will add a dominant presence to our offense and defense with her powerful attack, blocking, and ball control abilities," Cowley head coach Steven Gream said. "We were looking to add another middle hitter to our program and loved Laura's skill set. She is a strong and aggressive middle who puts up a solid block and can attack opponents with various sets with speed and power. These attributes are perfect for our style of play at Cowley. She has played at a high level in some great volleyball programs in Italy, and we look for her to bring that experience and grow in the college game. We are excited to have her as a part of our program at Cowley."

Santangeletta is the daughter of Gianluca Santangeletta and Silvia Bugini of Bergamo, Italy.