This is the third time in her career that Graham has received this weekly NEC award and the second consecutive season in which she earned it in the season's opening week.

Graham, who was also named to the Duquesne / Robert Morris Invitational All-Tournament Team for her play last week, drilled 37 kills over four matches of competition. She hit at least .300 in every match she played, including an astounding .571 in the season-opening sweep of Radford, and currently has a .380 cumulative mark. She also recorded 12 blocks in the tournament, which leaves her just one block shy of becoming only the fifth player in Colonial history to reach the 300-block plateau.

Graham added contributions in other areas as well, registering 18 digs over the weekend, including a career-high eight in a sweep of Morgan State, and adding four aces. She now has 104 aces in her career, a mark that puts her in ninth place in RMU's all-time history.

This latest award comes just days after Graham was named as one of the final 30 candidates across the nation for the inaugural Lowe's Senior CLASS Volleyball Award. The award seeks student-athletes who have notable achievements in four areas of excellence-community, classroom, character and competition.

Graham and her teammates will look to continue their momentum after their sweep of Morgan State when they travel to the Ball State Tournament this weekend. The Colonials open the tournament Friday with a match against Oakland (Mich.), before taking on the host Cardinals and Tennessee State the following afternoon.