Junior Florida right-side/setter Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) was named the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week for her stellar performances in the team’s victories against Auburn and Georgia at home this past weekend, the league offices in Birmingham, Ala., announced Monday.
Murphy earns the honor for the third time this season and the fifth time in her collegiate career. She helped direct the Gators to a pair of SEC victories this past week, improving the team’s win streak to 11 matches and its record to 16-1 overall and 9-0 in league play.
Murphy averaged a squad-best 3.71 kills per set on an impressive .435 hitting efficiency with 6.14 assists per set, 2.71 digs per set and 1.00 blocks per set.
Over the weekend, Murphy became just the 29th player in program history to join the school’s exclusive 1,000-point club, doing so in just 78 career matches, a feat that is even more impressive considering that she has done so while operating as a key element in Florida’s 6-2 offensive scheme.
Murphy turned in her nation-leading fifth triple-double of the season on Friday night with a match-high 15 kills on .583 hitting to complement 13 assists and 12 digs for 16.0 total points. On Sunday against Auburn, Murphy was one of four players in double-figure kills, charting 11 kills to go with a season-high 30 assists, seven digs and five blocks. She was one block shy of her career high of six on Sunday.
Murphy now has a school-record 20 triple-doubles in her Florida career.
Murphy and the Gators return to action on Wednesday when they play host to No. 21 Tennessee. Opening serve is slated for 8 p.m. ET and the match will be carried live on ESPNU with Beth Mowins and Elizabeth Moreau, and on WRUF Sports Radio 850 with Tom Collett and Missy Whittemore.
SEC VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (WEEK 8 – OCTOBER 18, 2010)
Offensive: Kelly Murphy, Florida
Defensive: Regina Thomas, Ole Miss
Freshman: Desiree Elliott, LSU
