Chicago-Area Women Sweep Puerto Rico, Exude Hometown Pride in Olympic Debut

Two women hailing from western suburbs served up a Saturday volleyball triumph in their U.S. Olympic debut while paying homage to their Chicago-area roots.

Kelly Murphy, a Joliet Catholic graduate, and Kelsey Robinson, a Bartlett native and alum of St. Francis High School in Wheaton, proved to be a smash hit duo in their 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 win over Puerto Rico.

Opposite Murphy was outside hitter Kim Hill. In their first Olympic games, each scored 14 points to lead Team USA, while Olympic veterans, Jordan Larson and Foluke Akinradewo, added 11 and nine points, respectively, reported TeamUSA.org.

"After playing to a 14-14 tie in the first set, the U.S. caught fire, going on an 8-1 scoring run en route to a 25-17 victory," the article said. "The second set was a similar challenge, as Team USA trailed 19-17. It took another late charge in which the U.S. scored eight of the final 13 points to secure the 25-22 win. And after a 13-13 tie in the third set, a 6-1 scoring run put the game out of reach for Puerto Rico, as the U.S. went on to take the final set 25-17."

Robinson sported her No. 23 jersey on the court — a number strategically chosen as an ode to Michael Jordan and in turn, her Chicago comrades.

"I wear it because it's a connection to my hometown and the people there," she said, in a Chicago Tribune report, which also specifies basketball as Robinsons' primary sport as a child. "That way, no matter where I am, I feel like they're with me."