Incoming Florida Volleyball Freshmen Named AAU All-Americans
Friday, June 20, 2008 | Volleyball
Incoming University of Florida volleyball freshmen Kelly Murphy (Joliet, Ill.) and Colleen Ward (Naperville, Ill.) each earned AAU All-America honors in leading the Mizuno Sports Performance Volleyball Elite of Illinois to the AAU 18-and-under open national championship on Thursday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Murphy, the nation's top recruit by PrepVolleyball.com, was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 event after Ward won Most Valuable Player honors during the 2007 season. It is the second AAU MVP honor of Murphy's career as she earned the same recognition at the 2006 event.
Murphy, a 6-foot-2 setter/opposite hitter, was named the 2007 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year and was a three-time Joliet Herald Player of the Year. She was the Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year. During her senior season, Murphy helped lead her Joliet Catholic team to a share of the East Suburban Catholic Conference title as well as its fourth consecutive regional crown and its third consecutive sectional championship. She also helped lead the USA Junior National Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2007 FIVB Junior National World Championships, earning the Best Server award in that tournament.
She helped guide Sports Performance to the 18-Open national title at the 2007 Junior Olympics, as well as the 16-Open title in 2005, earning MVP honors at both events. Murphy is a two-time PrepVolleyball.com All-American.
Named one of Volleyball Magazine's 25 Underclassmen to Watch following her junior season, she was one of 15 finalists for PrepVolleyball.com Junior of the Year in 2006, as well as one of 20 final nominees for the organization's Sophomore of the Year award in 2005.
Ward, the No. 7 recruit by PrepVolleyball.com, is a 6-foot-2 outside hitter who also has been a member of the US Junior National Team in each of the past two seasons. She earned first-team All-America honors from Volleyball Magazine in 2006.
She helped lead the Sports Performance club to the 18-Open national title at the 2007 Junior Olympics, as well as the 16-Open title in 2006.
In 2007, Ward earned her second-consecutive first-team all-state honors from the Chicago Tribune and the Champaign News-Gazette, while picking up Chicago Sun-Times all-city accolades for the second year in a row. The Naperville Sun, in addition to selecting her for its all-area team for the fourth time in as many years, also tabbed Ward as its Player of the Year following her senior season. She also notched her fourth-straight selection to the Daily Herald all-area squad, heading the class as its honorary captain.
Ward was a four-year starter at Naperville North, holding the school record in kills (career and single-season) and ranks fifth in school history in career digs. In 2004, Ward was named one of seven finalists for the National Freshman of the Year award by PrepVolleyball.com.
Murphy and Ward comprise an impressive incoming class that includes middle blocker Cassie Anderson (Bakersfield, Calif.), setter Cindy Bathelt (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and middle blocker Betsy Smith (Atlanta).
Florida begins its 2008 volleyball season on Aug. 29, when it plays host to UAB. Opening serve is set for 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
