Sam Fry and Lions dominate the net for victory

DAYTON, Ohio - The Lions knocked off second-ranked Toledo St. Ursula in four games 27-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-17 at Wright State University’s Nutter Center.

Ursuline Academy came back from an eight-point deficit to take the first game and trailed just once in the last two as it improved their record to 21-6 this season and earned a berth in the Division I State Championship at 1 p.m. against No. 3 Massillon Jackson. The Polar Bears (28-1) beat unranked Chagrin Falls Kenston 25-9, 25-20, 31-33, 25-11 in the second semifinal.

Junior Sam Fry, a future Note Dame hitter, led Ursuline in kills with 19, while senior setter Abby Weisenburger had 41 assists and senior Courtney Grafton had 27 of her team’s 67 digs.

The Lions won the battle at the net with 20 blocks to 10 for Toledo St. Ursula. Five players had at least two blocks for the Lions, led by sophomore Katherine Edmonson and senior Rachel Garnett with five each.

The Arrows had lost to Ursuline 3-0 during the regular season.

The Lions will be playing for the school’s fifth state championship.

St. Ursula, playing in its ninth state tournament since 2000, was state runner-up to Mount Notre Dame last year and returned four players from that team.

CLICK on the video (right-hand side) to see highlights and hear coach Jeni Case and the team talk about their semifinal victory.