JCA president/principal Dr. Jeffrey Budz is pleased to announce that the Joliet Catholic Academy community will honor Olympic bronze medalist Kelly Murphy, a 2008 graduate, before Thursday night’s varsity volleyball contest vs. Hinsdale South. The varsity match is schedule to begin at 6 p.m. Murphy will be honored between the sophomore and varsity matches, which will likely be between 5:45 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Murphy, a 6-foot-2 right-side hitter, helped lead the U.S. Olympic women’s volleyball team to a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeating the Netherlands 25-23, 25-27, 25-22, 25-19. The former Angel great and 2007-2008 Gatorade High School National Player of the Year, made an impact in the medal round with five kills, a block kill, an ace, and a dig against the Dutch.

JCA coach Christine Scheibe said of Murphy, who led the Angels to back-to-back trips downstate in 2005 and 2006, “I think it’s an amazing accomplishment,” Scheibe said. “I’m sure in her mind she wanted the gold, but bronze is something to be very proud of and she’ll remember it the rest of her life. We will remember it, too. We’ll also never forget how it started with Kelly bringing home medals for fourth place and third place with us when she played like a state champion. She always plays like a champion.

-quotes courtesy of the Joliet Catholic Academy Girls Volleyball Official Facebook Page