Murphy Cherishes Time Around Gators as She Finished Degree

Kelly Murphy takes a swing for the U.S. during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. (File photo)

Murphy Cherishes Time Around Gators as She Finished Degree

Friday, December 15, 2017 | Volleyball, Scott Carter

Former Gators volleyball standout Kelly Murphy sent the Gators off to Kansas City with an emotional pep talk. She is participating in commencement ceremonies Saturday before the national championship.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Former UF volleyball All-American Kelly Murphy was tired and bleary-eyed Friday as she packed up her Gainesville apartment and waited on her family to arrive from Illinois.

Like a lot of Gators fans, the 28-year-old Murphy stayed up well past midnight Thursday to watch Florida's 3-2 victory over Stanford in the NCAA semifinals. The Gators advanced to Saturday night's national championship game against Nebraska in their quest to win the program's first national title.

"I'm happy I've been on campus this semester to see this team,'' she said. "I've been to a lot of the home matches. It gives me a lot of appreciation for what they've done. They trust each other and that's something you can tell. They've been able to fight back in some of these tough matches."

A four-time All-American who starred for the Gators from 2008-11, Murphy returned to school in August to complete her degree in elementary education. She contemplated coming back for several years as she played professionally overseas and in the states with USA Volleyball.

Murphy helped the U.S. win the World Championship in 2014 and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. However, finding time to return to school was difficult until this past August shortly after playing for the U.S. in the World Grand Prix in China and Brazil.

"It worked out with the timing,'' Murphy said. "It was the right time for me to come back and ended up being one of the best decisions I've made."

1386 — Kelly Murphy was a four-time All-American at Florida from 2008-11. (File photo)

Murphy will participate in commencement ceremonies on Saturday at the O'Dome, the same venue where she once dominated on the court. During her college career, the Gators came close to the Final Four but never advanced past the regional championship.

Murphy gave the Gators a pep talk prior to their departure for Kansas City on Tuesday.

"Truly, one of the most impactful and empowering talks that were given to the players,'' Gators head coach Mary Wise said Friday. "Those who know Kelly, Kelly did not ever enjoy the spotlight. She was moved to tears telling the players that she never got that chance to play in the semifinals or the championship match. She wanted it so badly for this group.

"The look on the players at that moment, I think they realized, it's really not just about us. We are carrying the Gator Nation with us through this run as well."

While Murphy has an eventful day planned with her family Saturday, she'll be back in front of the TV by the time the Gators face the Cornhuskers.

By then, she'll officially be a college graduate.

"I'm not going to be able to play volleyball forever unfortunately,'' she said. "I just knew this was really important and important for me to finish what I started. It's been in the back of my mind for six years now."