Volleyball's Murphy Named a CVU.com Top Performer
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 | Volleyball
Freshman Florida right-side/setter Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) has been named to College Volleyball Update's (CVU.com) list of Top Performers for Dec. 2 for her strong performances against South Carolina and UNLV, the Web site announced Tuesday morning.
This marks the second award this season for Murphy from CVU.com after she was named their National Player of the Week on Sept. 30.
Murphy on Monday was named the league's Freshman of the Week after becoming the first player in school history to record back-to-back triple-doubles. In Wednesday's match vs. South Carolina, Murphy broke the school record for triple-doubles just 27 matches into her collegiate career, finishing with 17 kills, 25 assists and 13 digs. She followed that performance up with 13 kills, 17 assists and a career-high-tying 15 digs against UNLV on Saturday night for her sixth career triple-double.
Murphy broke the school record of four career triple-doubles set by former All-America setter Angie McGinnis (2004-07) and Murphy is the only freshman in school history to have recorded a triple-double.
On the weekend, Murphy averaged a squad-best 3.75 kills per set on .344 hitting with 5.25 assists per set. She tallied a team-high 36.0 total points on the weekend and was second on the team in digs per set (3.50/set) and blocks per set (1.25/set). Murphy played an important role as a server vs. the Rebels on Saturday, recording a perfect 1.000 service percentage in 13 attempts.
Murphy averaged 1.25 blocks per set on the week with five blocks each against South Carolina and UNLV, marking her best two-match blocking stretch of the season. She tied for the team lead in blocks against the Rebels on Saturday night. Murphy, who played in every point of every rotation in the matches, led the team in points in each of their outings this past week with 20.5 points vs. the Gamecocks and 15.5 points vs. UNLV.
On the season, Murphy ranks sixth in the SEC in kills per set with 3.29 and is second in the league in hitting percentage with a .360 clip. She is the only player in the league to rank in the top six in both of those categories simultaneously. Murphy also averages 5.58 assists per set and 1.89 digs per set.
Each Tuesday, CVU.com announces selections for the Top Performers from the past week. These selections will include the Player of the Week and up to 10 others. Choices will consist of players who were finalists for the weekly honor and others who had exceptional individual matches. The additional selections will be based on nominations and CVU.com staff picks.
Murphy and the Gators return to action on Friday, when they play host to Florida A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Opening serve in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST and the match will be carried live on WRUF-AM 850 with Tom Collett and Missy Whittemore.
For all of the latest information on Florida volleyball, please log on to www.GatorZone.com.
CVU.com Weekly Honors (Dec. 2, 2008)
Player of the Week:
Bethany Fuller, Missouri Sta te
Top Performers:
Jess Chason, Delaware
Ali Dailey, UCLA
Amy DeGroot, San Diego
Rachel Kieckhaefer, Ole Miss
Stephanie Lynch, Purdue
Ashley Mass, Iowa State
Kelly Murphy, Florida
Kelsey Murphy, Clemson
Lauren Paolini, Texas
Angie Porche, Valparaiso
END OF REPORT
