June 26, 2009

IRVING, Texas - - Senior women's soccer player Kate Murphy was named one of 12 recipients of the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship Award it was announced by the league office, Friday.

A four-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Academic Medal selection, Murphy graduated in May with a perfect 4.0 GPA in international business with a double minor in Spanish and political science.

A defender and the team captain for each of Memphis' last two seasons, Murphy helped the Lady Tigers to back-to-back conference championship titles and NCAA appearances. Also a two-time C-USA All-Academic team honoree, Murphy was also a recipient of the Fall 2008 C-USA Spirit of Service award. A member of Sigma Alpha Lamda Honors Program, the Anchorage, Ala., native was also a volunteer at Binghampton Community Center in its after-school program and at a Special Olympics soccer clinic, as well as volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club.

Murphy played in 81 career games for the Lady Tigers, with 73 starts in the defense, scoring two goals and six assists over her career. The last two NCAA tournament appearances with Murphy on the roster were the first two in school history for the women's soccer program.

Murphy will remain in Memphis for graduate school, and is enrolled in the International MBA Program.

The Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship Award is named for Dr. Jim Castañeda, who was an educator, coach and Faculty Athletic Representative at fellow C-USA member Rice for over 46 years. Castañeda passed away in December and this is the first year the annual postgraduate awards will be presented in his honor. The conference annually awards 12 awards for $4,000 to 12 recipients at league schools.

Memphis will open its 2009 season Aug. 15th with an exhibition match against Samford at 1 p.m. at Mike Rose Stadium.