Kelly Murphy, U.S. women sweep Japan, reach Olympic volleyball semifinals

RIO DE JANEIRO – The U.S. women’s volleyball team continued to roll over competition at the Summer Olympics on Tuesday, scoring a 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-22) victory over Japan.

The Americans, with Joliet Catholic graduate Kelly Murphy continuing to shine from her opposite position, advanced into Thursday’s semifinals, where Serbia, which ousted Russia in straight sets in the quarterfinals, will be the opponent.

Serbia lost in four sets to the U.S. during pool play but pulled off a surprising five-set victory at last year’s World Cup in Japan last August that forced the Americans to qualify for Rio at Lincoln, Nebraska, in January.

Kim Hill led the U.S. with 15 points against Japan and Jordan Larson chipped in 14.

OLYMPICS

Doris seventh in triple jump: Troy Doris, competing for Guyana, finished slightly short of medaling in the triple jump at the Olympic Games on Tuesday morning, settling for seventh place.

The Bolingbrook graduate registered leaps of 16.88 meters and 16.63 meters before he flew 16.90 meters (roughly 55½ feet) on his fifth attempt in the finals to place seventh.
Defending Olympic champion and reigning world champion Christian Taylor of the United States won the gold with a jump of 17.86 meters (roughly 58½ feet). Will Claye of the United States was second at 17.76 meters and China's Dong Bin was third at 17.58 meters.

Doris, who is Guyanese by naturalization, decided to compete for the tiny northeastern South America country because he felt he had a better chance of competing in the Olympics than if he continued to participate on the talent-laden USA squad. He is a two-time high school state champion and starred at the University of Iowa before turning professional. Doris also is Guyana’s national record holder in the triple jump.

GIRLS GOLF

Lincoln-Way Central third: Lincoln-Way Central finished third out of 17 teams and missed second place by one stroke at Tuesday’s Linda Gilley Invitational at Lincoln Oaks. Sophomore Grace Curran shot a 1-under-par 70 to finish second among 85 players. Sophomore Bri Bolden shot a 4-over 75 and finished fifth. Junior Taylor Miron shot 80 and freshman Carly Schiene was the other Knights’ scorer.

BOYS GOLF

Plainfield North Invite: Kaneland, Joliet Catholic and Lincoln-Way Central all shot 319 and finished 1-2-3 after the tiebreaker was applied at Monday’s Plainfield North Invite. Jason White led Central with a 77, good for eighth place.