Joliet Catholic grad Kelly Murphy of Wilmington had a big part as the U.S. women’s volleyball team made history by winning the world title Sunday in Milan, Italy.
It was the first title for the U.S. women in any of volleyball’s three major global championships: Olympics, worlds and World Cup.
Team USA overpowered China 3-1 in the final.
Previous U.S. teams had won two silver and two bronze medals in the World Championships, a quadrennial event begun in 1952. The most recent medal was silver in 2002.
Murphy, 24, the starter at opposite hitter, was fourth in the tournament in scoring and 10th in spike percentage. Teammate Kim Hill won the tournament MVP award.
Coached by volleyball legend Karch Kiraly, who became the fourth person to win worlds as a player and coach, the No. 2 seed U.S. team won 11 of its 13 matches, including an upset of unbeaten No. 1 seed Brazil in the semifinals.
Bartlett’s Kelsey Robinson, a Saint Francis High School grad, started four matches in the tournament and saw action in 19 of the team’s 44 sets.