Express Volleyball Standout, Urbanski, Signs With Lourdes University

Lisa Urbanski, pictured here setting a ball her freshman year, has signed with Lourdes University to continue her volleyball career. Photo by Frawgbyte Photography
Lisa Urbanski, pictured here setting a ball her freshman year, has signed with Lourdes University to continue her volleyball career. Photo by Frawgbyte Photography
Posted: Feb 17, 2014

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Lisa Urbanski (Notre Dame Academy/Toledo, Ohio), a sophomore defensive specialist for the Express volleyball team, has signed with Lourdes University to continue her academic and athletic careers.

As a sophomore this past year, Urbanski had a team-high 835 digs, along with 45 aces, 15 kills and 14 assists. She was named First Team All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC), First Team All-Region XII and was the lone Express member of the Region XII All-Tournament team. During the season, she was a two-time OCCAC player of the week (Sept. 23, Oct. 6).

As a freshman, Urbanski helped lead the Express to the national semifinals. She had a team-high 953 digs, 77 aces, 19 assists and seven kills. Her dig total was the second highest in a single season at Owens. In the national tournament, Urbanski recorded 107 digs. Following the season, she was named First Team All-OCCAC.

In her two years, Urbanski totaled 1,788 digs, 122 aces, 33 assists and 22 kills. Her career dig total is the second most all-time, just 92 short of tying the 1,882 that Ellie Comes (2010-11) produced. Her single season totals are both in the top five with her 835 as a sophomore placing her fifth. Moreover, her 122 career aces is eighth all-time.

Academically, Urbanski is one of the top student-athletes at Owens. She earned Academic All-OCCAC honors after a freshman year 4.0 GPA.

In her two years at Owens, the Express volleyball team finished 59-33 overall and 20-4 in OCCAC play. The won a conference championship, a district championship and finished fourth in the NJCAA D-II National Tournament her freshman year.

The Lourdes Gray Wolves finished 21-13 overall last year and 5-6 in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play. They lost to No. 4 Madonna in the WHAC tournament championship, but advanced to the NAIA National Tournament, where their season ended with a loss to No. 12 Georgetown (KY). Last season's team featured a former Express volleyball player, Alyssa Pelish, who was a senior.