FB Austin ADELL MURRAY IS “THAT” GIRL ON THE VOLLEYBALL COURT.
Born into a family of California-natives, one of whom was a competitive rower at USC, it’s almost as if Murray was born to be an athlete. It certainly didn’t take long for the Austin senior middle-blocker to pick up the culture of the hardwood.
“I started in third grade because I was tall,” said Murray. “I started to develop and people realized that I was athletic, so they began to put me in higher clubs. I ultimately landed where I am now – Houston Juniors. I love it because volleyball is kind of an escape for me, plus I’ve made several friends along the way.”
However, Murray’s volleyball journey was not without its obstacles. She has undergone two major surgeries throughout her athletic career. The first, of which, occurred in eighth grade when she suffered a compound fracture in her ankle. As a sophomore, she suffered a dislocated kneecap.
While her body may have been broken, her spirit would not falter.
“I learned a lot about myself during my time on the sidelines,” she said. “Injuries are terrible. I definitely don’t want to go through that again. But, if I never got injured, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. Those experiences taught me about perseverance. So, I think I’m innately more hardworking because I was forced to be. Those injuries built me up more than it broke me.”
That resiliency, combined with her premier athleticism and studious nature, made her a prime candidate for some of the top schools in the nation. Ultimately, Murray decided to commit to University of Pennsylvania.
“I didn’t think I could go to an Ivy League school until they started recruiting me,” Murray said. “So, when I noticed that was an opportunity I could take, I honed in on academic schools. UPenn was the one that really stood out to me because it was the most welcoming. I liked the coaches and players the most, and it’s just a really great school.”
Murray intends to seek out a career in psychology or neuroscience with a degree from UPenn. But, she currently has another goal in mind as she competes alongside her fellow Bulldogs one last time.
“I hope to leave a legacy of hard work and grit,” she said. “Before coach (Kristin) Goodman came in – during my freshman year – the volleyball program was kind of in shambles since there was a new coach every year. With her help, I think my legacy is being able to show the classes under me that hard work – especially through my injuries – and pushing through that kind of adversity pays off. I hope they remember that."