Some games, All-American high school talent gives way to freshman inexperience.
This was not one of those games for Kelly Murphy.
The freshman setter flaunted her versatility, posting 10 kills, 25 assists and 9 digs in a 3-0 (25-22, 26-24,26-24) against FSU (5-2) Monday night in Tallahassee.
"She was one dig away - and I'll be really mad if there was a dig that wasn't recorded - from a triple-double," said coach Mary Wise in a radio interview. "A triple-double in three sets, you are definitely doing a yeoman's work."
When No. 8 UF (5-0) took on Long Beach State just two days ago, Murphy endured the worst performance of her young career.
She hit .077 on 26 attempts and recorded just four digs in a five-set match.
After the match, Wise attributed Murphy's struggles to youth and said that any freshman is going to have rough games throughout the maturation process.
However, her ability to log a devastating and complete stat line is the reason she has been thrust into the center of the offensive attack as a true freshman.
Against the Seminoles, Murphy was able to put the last match behind her as she confidently contributed to a win that was a lot closer than it looks on paper.The Gators scored just seven more points than the Seminoles in the match.
The Gators were able to fend off two set points in the second set before icing a 26-24 win. In the third set, FSU again had the Gators on the ropes when it took a 23-22 lead after sophomore Callie Rivers was unable to finish off an attack.
"A lot of teams around the country are going to see a 3-0 win by Florida and not realize how hard of a fight it was," Wise said.
The Seminoles were led by junior Brianna Barry who had a game-high 13 kills with a .417 hitting percentage.
Wise showed her respect for the talented middle blocker, calling her one of the toughest players to contain in volleyball.
UF's middle blockers, senior Kelsey Bowers and junior Kristina Johnson, both played after missing practice on Sunday, but were unable to keep Barry from having a big game.
Two-time reigning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week Kristy Jaeckel led the Gators in kills (11) for the second straight game, and junior libero Elyse Cusack led the team in digs (12).
Wise voiced her surprise with Cusack's "low" dig total and questioned the official scoring.
"She might have had 12 halfway through the second set," she said.
Prior to the game, Wise expressed concerns with taking her young team into the tough, rivalry-driven atmosphere of FSU's Tully Gym.
Her team responded with the 17th consecutive defeat of the Seminoles.
