Cincinnati, Ohio, June 27, 2018 – Congratulations to the 2003 National Champion Volleyball Team from Saint Ursula Academy on being the first female team to be inducted into the LaRosa's Hall of Fame! Led by head coach Julie Perry, the team never lost a game that year on its path to National Champion!
Perry, along with many former players, attended the ceremony at CET studios in Cincinnati. Also in attendance, incoming Saint Ursula Principal Dr. Mari Thomas, and former SUA Principal and President in 2003, Fran Romweber and Judy Wimberg. A celebration with families and friends followed at O’Bryons in O’Bryonville.
The Hall of Fame program described the team this way:
In Ohio’s hotbed for volleyball, arguably Greater Cincinnati’s best team ever was the unbeaten Saint Ursula team of 2003. Julie Perry, a LaRosa’s Hall of Fame Coach, guided this team through a perfect season 29-0 and a national championship. In fact, her team was rated #1 in the nation the entire year and never wavered from that spot.
Perry knew she had the makings of a special team right from the very start. Saint Ursula’s drive to the title was relentless throughout the season.
The team featured another LaRosa’s Hall of Fame Athlete, Bryn Kehoe, who was one of four seniors from the team to go on to play in college. Kehoe went to Stanford, while Beth Shelton played for Virginia, Beth Gillming started at Maryland and Erin Schroeder played at Dayton.
Head Coach of the team, Julie Perry, shared some special words with her athletes at the induction ceremony.
“I am so proud of all of you and what you have done at SUA and for women and sports,” said Perry. “It is a major accomplishment to be the first team to be inducted into the Team Hall of Fame. You are a special group and you made us as coaches work hard. I loved all of our bonding, our practices and our competitions. It was all about being with all of you and your families. I wish you only the best!”
Perry, who is currently chair of the Health and Physical Education Department at Saint Ursula, added “It has been an honor to coach every one of my student athletes over the years whether we won state or ended the season in the earlier tournament round. It’s all about the journey, and what a journey the 2003 team, the coaches, the players, the families, and our school community had!”