Volleyball's Murphy Named National Freshman of the Year
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 | Volleyball
Freshman Florida right-side/setter Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I National Freshman of the Year, the Lexington, Ky.-based organization announced Wednesday at its annual convention in Omaha, Neb.
Murphy, 6-foot-2, becomes the first player in school history to be named the AVCA's National Freshman of the Year. The honor comes one week after Murphy, the 2008 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, became just the second player in school history to be named the AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year.
Murphy also was named an AVCA Third-Team All-America selection, making her the first freshman in program history to be named an All-American. She was one of only two freshmen in the country in 2008 to receive first, second or third-team All-America recognition.
Murphy broke the school's career record for triple-doubles just 27 matches into her collegiate career and she now has six triple-doubles to her credit. She also recorded a squad-best 21 double-doubles in 2008, including a stretch of 12 consecutive double-doubles during conference play.
On the season, Murphy averaged a squad-best 3.21 kills per set on a team-high .358 hitting percentage. She led the team in total points with 412.0 and also was second in both assists (5.50/set) and digs (1.88/set). She was eighth in the SEC in kills per set and second in hitting percentage. She dished out 20 or more assists on 15 occasions as part of a 6-2 offense, which ranked second in the league in both team hitting percentage (.253) and team assists (12.51).
Murphy made her mark in the Florida freshman record books, as she ranked in the top 10 in nine different freshmen categories, including tying the freshman school record for kills with 357. She also was second all-time in hitting percentage by a freshman (.358) and kills per set by a freshman (3.22/set).
Murphy was a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week selection (9/29, 10/6, 12/1), who on Sept. 29, 2008 became just the second player in league history to be named both Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week simultaneously. She was named the AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week and the College Volleyball Update (CVU.com) National Player of the Week on Sept. 30, 2008.
In league matches only, Murphy led the team and ranked sixth in the league in kills per set with 3.45. She was third in hitting percentage with a .386 clip in conference play. She led the Gators in total points (293.0) and points per set (3.96). She also ranked second on the team in assists per set (5.51), service aces per set (0.24) and digs per set (1.93) during SEC action.
Junior libero Elyse Cusack (Melrose, Fla.), who in 2007 became Florida's first All-America selection at the defensive specialist/libero position, was named an honorable mention All-America selection for the second consecutive season. Cusack, who broke Florida's nearly 21-year-old career digs record earlier this year, currently has 1,634 career digs and is the only player in school history to have eclipsed the 1,500 and 1,600-dig marks.
Cusack, 5-foot-9, ranks seventh on the SEC's all-time career digs list and holds three spots among the Gators' top-four single-season digs totals. She was a four-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week selection during the 2008 campaign, marking the first time in league history that a student-athlete has won the award four times during a single season. Cusack has been a SEC Defensive Player of the Week nine times in her career.
Cusack led the team and was second in the SEC in digs per set with 4.59. She tallied double-figure digs in 27 of the team's 31 matches this season and 87 of 92 matches during her Florida career. She has eclipsed the 20-dig plateau on 10 occasions in 2008, including a season-high 38 digs at Georgia on Oct. 26.
Cusack also was second in the SEC in service aces per set with 0.41, making her the only player to rank in the league's top five in both digs and service aces.
In league matches only, Cusack averaged a squad-best 4.91 digs per set, notching double-figure digs in 19-of-20 league contests. Cusack also led the team in service aces with 0.32 per set in conference matches. She played in each of the team's 74 sets during conference play and charted nine matches during league play with a perfect 1.000 reception percentage.
Each of the three AVCA All-America teams is comprised of 14 athletes. The Division I AVCA National Player of the Year will be announced on Dec. 19 at the annual AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet in Omaha, Neb.
The selections were made by the AVCA Division I All-America Committee- Debbie Kirch, Green Bay; Andy Banachowski, UCLA; Keylor Chan, Northwestern; Joe Getzin, Ole Miss; Barry Goldberg, American; Christy Johnson, Iowa State; Mike Jordan, New Mexico State; Jolene Nagel, Duke.
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2008 AVCA FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
| Name | School | POS | YR | HT | Hometown |
| Foluke Akinradewo | Stanford | MB | Sr. | 6-3 | Plantation, Fla. |
| Cynthia Barboza | Stanford | OH | Sr. | 6-0 | Long Beach, Calif. |
| Hana Cutura | Cal | OH | Jr. | 6-4 | Zagreb, Croatia |
| Ashley Engle | Texas | RS | Jr. | 6-3 | Yorba Linda, Calif. |
| Nicole Fawcett | Penn State | OH | Sr. | 6-4 | Zanesfield, Ohio |
| Alisha Glass | Penn State | S | Jr. | 6-0 | Leland, Mich. |
| Christa Harmotto | Penn State | MB | Sr. | 6-2 | Aliquippa, Penn. |
| Megan Hodge | Penn State | OH | Jr. | 6-3 | Durham, N.C. |
| Destinee Hooker | Texas | OH | Jr. | 6-4 | San Antonio, Texas |
| Alix Klineman | Stanford | OH | So. | 6-4 | Manhattan Beach, Calif. |
| Jordan Larson | Nebraska | OH | Sr. | 6-2 | Hooper, Neb. |
| Stephanie Lynch | Purdue | MB | Sr. | 6-3 | New Albany, Ind. |
| Lauren Paolini | Texas | MB | Sr. | 6-5 | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Nellie Spicer | UCLA | S | Sr. | 5-10 | Barrington, Ill. |
2008 AVCA SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
| Name | School | POS | YR | HT | Hometown |
| Sydney Anderson | Nebraska | S | So. | 6-0 | Sandy, Utah |
| Blair Brown | Penn State | RS | So. | 6-5 | Purcellville, Va. |
| Laura DeBruler | Illinois | OH | So. | 5-10 | Downers Grove, Ill. |
| Brook Dieter | Minnesota | OH | So. | 6-1 | Bloomington, Minn. |
| Neticia Enesi | Oregon | MB | Jr. | 6-1 | The Dalles, Ore. |
| Jamie Houston | Hawaii | OH | Sr. | 6-1 | Huntsville, Ala. |
| Carli Lloyd | Cal | S | So. | 5-11 | Bonsall, Calif. |
| Kaylee Manns | Iowa State | S | Jr. | 5-10 | Topeka, Kan. |
| Gorana Maricic | Oregon | OH | Sr. | 6-3 | Subotica, Serbia |
| Tamari Miyashiro | Washington | DS/L | Jr. | 5-7 | Kaneohe, Hawaii |
| Tara Mueller | Nebraska | OH | So. | 6-0 | Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Jessica Swarbrick | Washington | MB | Sr. | 6-1 | El Dorado, Calif. |
| Arielle Wilson | Penn State | MB | So. | 6-3 | Broadview, Ill. |
| Lexi Zimmerman | Michigan | S | So. | 5-10 | Barrington, Ill. |
2008 AVCA THIRD-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
| Name | School | POS | YR | HT | Hometown |
| Lori Baird | Utah | MB | Sr. | 6-2 | Murray, Utah |
| Anna Cmaylo | Santa Clara | MB | Sr. | 6-4 | Napa, Calif. |
| Kanani Danielson | Hawaii | OH | Fr. | 5-10 | Ewa Beach, Hawaii |
| Jeanne Fairchild | New Mexico | OH | Sr. | 6-1 | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Jessica Fine | UCLA | DS/L | Sr. | 5-6 | Tarzana, Calif. |
| Lauren Gibbemeyer | Minnesota | MB | So. | 6-2 | St. Paul, Minn. |
| Jenna Hagglund | Washington | S | So. | 5-10 | West Chester, Ohio |
| Danielle Hepburn | Clemson | MB | Sr. | 6-2 | Miami, Fla. |
| Nataly Korobkova | Kansas State | RS | Sr. | 6-3 | Krasnoyarsk, Russia |
| Ashley Mass | Iowa State | DS/L | So. | 5-8 | Muskego, Wisc. |
| Jana Matiasovska | Louisville | OH | Sr. | 6-6 | Bratislava, Slovakia |
| Sammi McCloud | St. Louis | RS | Jr. | 6-2 | Columbia, Ill. |
| Kelly Murphy | Florida | S/RS | Fr. | 6-2 | Wilmington, Ill. |
| Julie Rubenstein | Pepperdine | OH | Sr. | 6-3 | Camarillo, Calif. |
- 2008 AVCA National Freshman of the Year: Kelly Murphy, Florida
- 2008 AVCA National Player of the Year: To be announced at banquet on Dec. 19 in Omaha, Neb.
2008 AVCA HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICA: Ashley Adams (Samford, RS, Sr.); Megan Argabright (Western Kentucky, MB, Sr.); Ashley Asberry (Middle Tennessee, MB, Jr.); Kylie Atherstone (Cal Poly, OH, Sr.); Katelyn Barbour (Morehead State, S/RS, Sr.); Mekana Barnes (Colorado State, MB, Sr.); Stephanie Barry (Delaware, DS/L, Jr.); Whitney Behrens (Saint Louis, DS/L, Jr.); Ivana Bozic (UAB, OH, Sr.); Heather Brooks (North Carolina, MB, Jr.); Kelly Broussard (Wichita State, DS/Lib., Sr.); Lane Carico (Miami, OH, Fr.); Stephanie Champine (Austin Peay, OH, Jr.); Lucy Charuk (Houston, MB, So.); Leslie Clark (Middle Tennessee State, S, Jr.); Kori Cooper (Nebraska, MB, Jr.); Britnee Cooper (Louisiana State, MB, Jr.); Kallie Corbin (Liberty, S, Jr.); Anell Cubi-Otineru (Hawai'i, OH, Jr.); Elyse Cusack (Florida, L, Jr.); Amy DeGroot (San Diego, OH, Jr.); Brianna Eskola (North Carolina, DS/L, Jr.); Justine Farmer (Houston, OH, Sr.); Lindsay Fletemeir (Dayton, MB, Jr.); Bridget Fonke (Saint Louis, OH, Jr.); Ashley Fornstrom (Colorado State, S, Sr.); Nikki Fowler (Tennessee, OH, So.); Marcela Gurgel (South Florida, OH, Jr.); Victoria Henson (Iowa State, OH, So.); Ellen Herman (Ohio, OH, Jr.); Jaclyn Houston (Cal Poly, MB, Sr.); Jessica Houts (Creighton, MB, Jr.); Christina Kaelin (Notre Dame, RS, Jr.); Lauren Kellerman (UC Irvine, OH, Sr.); Talisa Kellogg (Georgia Tech, OH, Sr.); Valeria Kovaleva (St. John's, S, Sr.); Justine Landi (Louisville, RS, Jr.); Wioleta Leszczynska (St. John's, S, Sr.); Jen Linder (Tulane, MB, Sr.); Dani Mafua (Hawai'i, S, So.); Brittany Malicoat (Valparaiso, DS/Lib., Sr.); Elena Martinez (Louisiana State, DS/Lib., Sr.); Callie Miller (Georgia Tech, MB, Sr.); Brittany Moore (Cal State Fullerton, OH, Sr.); Karyn Morgan (Rice, OH, Sr.); Rachael Moss (Duke, OH, Jr.); Natalie Mulikin (Wake Forest, MB, Sr.); Kelsey Murphy (Clemson, S, Jr.); Jessie Nevitt (Cincinnati, MB, Sr.); Sonja Newcombe (Oregon, OH, Jr.); Julia Noe (Western Kentucky, S, Sr.); Jourdan Norman (Duke, MB, Sr.); Queen Nzenwa (Kentucky, MB, Sr.); Angie Porche (Valparaiso, OH, Jr.); Lia Proctor (Clemson, OH, Jr.); Sara Radosevic (Tulane, OH, Sr.); Yarimar Rosa (Florida International, OH, Jr.); Jalicia Ross (Marshall, MB, Sr.); Whitney Roth (Saint Louis, S, Jr.); Sarah Rumely (Kentucky, S, Jr.); Meredith Schamun (Rice, S, So.); Erica Short (Indiana, OH, Sr.); Nevena Stefanov (UAB, S, Sr.); Emily Stockman (Wichita State, OH, Jr.); Rubena Sukaj (American, OH, Sr.); Christine Tan (Minnesota, DS/L, So.); Emillie Toone (Utah, MB, Sr.); Krystal Torres (New Mexico State, DS/L, Sr.); Naomi Washington (Long Beach State, MB, Jr.); Brooks Webster (Alabama, OH, Jr.); Bridget Wells (Tulane, RS, Sr.); Felicia Willoughby (Virginia Tech, MB, So.); Lena Yee (St. John's, DS/L, Sr.).
MURPHY'S 2008 HONORS AND AWARDS (Date Announced)
- AVCA National Freshman of the Year (December 17, 2008)
- AVCA Third-Team All-America (December 17, 2008)
- AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year (December 10, 2008)
- AVCA All-South Region Selection (December 10, 2008)
- College Volleyball Update (CVU.com) Weekly Top Performer (December 2, 2008)
- Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year (December 1, 2008)
- All-Southeastern Conference First Team (December 1, 2008)
- Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week (September 29, October 6, December 1, 2008)
- Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week (September 30, 2008)
- College Volleyball Update (CVU.com) National Player of the Week (September 30, 2008)
- Southeastern Conference Player of the Week (September 29, 2008)
MURPHY IN THE FLORIDA FRESHMAN RECORD BOOK
| Category | Rank | Statistic |
| Kills by a Freshman | T1st | 357 |
| Kills Per Set by a Freshman | 2nd | 3.22 |
| Hitting Percentage by a Freshman | 2nd | .358 |
| Points by a Freshman | 3rd | 412.0 |
| Points Per Set by a Freshman | 3rd | 3.71 |
| Assists by a Freshman | 5th | 610 |
| Assists Per Set by a Freshman | 5th | 5.50 |
| Attacks by a Freshman | 7th | 699 |
| Games Played by a Freshman | T10th | 111 |
MURPHY'S CAREER STATISTICS
Season GP-MP K K/G E TA Pct A A/G SA SA/G SE DIG D/G RE BS BA TB B/G BE BHE Points Pts/G
2008.. 111-31 357 3.22 107 699 .358 610 5.50 24 0.22 53 209 1.88 1 0 62 62 0.56 4 6 412.0 3.71
TOTAL. 111-31 357 3.22 107 699 .358 610 5.50 24 0.22 53 209 1.88 1 0 62 62 0.56 4 6 412.0 3.71
CUSACK'S 2008 HONORS AND AWARDS (Date Announced)
- AVCA Honorable Mention All-America (December 17, 2008)
- AVCA All-South Region Selection (December 10, 2008)
- All-Southeastern Conference Second Team (December 1, 2008)
- Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week (November 24, 2008)
- Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week (November 17, 2008)
- Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week (November 3, 2008)
- Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week (October 27, 2008)
- 2008 All-Southeastern Conference Preseason Team (August 21, 2008)
CUSACK ON FLORIDA'S CAREER DIGS LIST
| Rank | Player | Years | Total Career Digs |
| 1 | Elyse Cusack | 2006-Present | 1634 |
| 2 | Lyra Vance | 1984-87 | 1444 |
| 3 | Marcie Hampton | 2004-07 | 1384 |
| 4 | Rachel Engel | 2002-05 | 1372 |
| 5 | Roni Armeda | 1986-89 | 1354 |
CUSACK ON SEC ALL-TIME CAREER DIGS LIST
| Rank | Player (School) | Years | Total Career Digs |
| 1 | Ashley Miller (Arkansas) | 2004-07 | 2126 |
| 2 | Jenni Casper (Kentucky) | 2003-06 | 2037 |
| 3 | Shelli Gross (Georgia) | 1983-86 | 1748 |
| 4 | Amy Pauly (Alabama) | 2005-08 | 1724 |
| 5 | Melissa Kariker (Mississippi State) | 1993-96 | 1707 |
| 6 | Krystal Osborne (Arkansas) | 1994-97 | 1659 |
| 7 | Elyse Cusack (Florida) | 2006-Pres. | 1634 |
| 8 | Dani Reis (LSU) | 1989-92 | 1527 |
| 9 | Gretchen Thompson (Auburn) | 1986-89 | 1495 |
| 10 | Kristy Dobson (Tennessee) | 1988-91 | 1474 |
CUSACK ON FLORIDA'S SINGLE-SEASON DIGS LIST
| Rank | Player | Year | Total Digs That Season |
| 1 | Rachel Engel | 2005 | 599 |
| 2 | Elyse Cusack | 2007 | 587 |
| 3 | Elyse Cusack | 2006 | 535 |
| 4 | Elyse Cusack | 2008 | 512 |
| 5 | Rachel Engel | 2004 | 510 |
CUSACK'S CAREER STATISTICS
Season GP-MP K K/G E TA Pct A A/G SA SA/G SE DIG D/G RE BS BA TB B/G BE BHE Points Pts/G
2006.. 97-29 0 0.00 5 15 -.333 103 1.06 21 0.22 27 535 5.52 22 0 0 0 0.00 1 9 21.0 0.22
2007.. 109-32 7 0.06 1 14 .429 123 1.13 35 0.32 59 587 5.39 32 0 0 0 0.00 0 2 42.0 0.39
2008.. 111-31 3 0.03 4 23 -.043 109 0.98 45 0.41 25 512 4.61 26 0 0 0 0.00 0 6 48.0 0.43
TOTAL. 317-92 10 0.03 10 52 .000 335 1.06 101 0.32 111 1634 5.15 80 0 0 0 0.00 1 17 111.0 0.35
END OF REPORT
