Moon Township, Pa. ? Robert Morris University freshman setter Alyssa Bennett (Ramona, Calif. / Ramona) took home the first Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week award for the 2008 campaign Tuesday after leading the Colonials to a 4-0 record in the Robert Morris / Duquesne Invitational. This is the second straight year a Colonial has earned the first rookie award of the season.

In RMU's first match of the year against Lehigh, Bennett showed no signs that it was her first collegiate match. In the 3-0 win she accumulated 27 assists, two kills on a .400 hitting average, two service aces and two blocks. Her strong play continued against Loyola (Md.), as she racked up five kills on a .625 hitting average to earn the highest hitting percentage of the match. She also compiled 28 assists and one block in the 3-0 win.

On day two of the tournament, Bennett helped her team surpass a set one loss to win the match, 3-1, over Marist. In the victory, she posted a match-high 55 assists to go along with three kills, six digs, one block and a .600 hitting percentage. In the final match of the tournament, Bennett compiled 28 assists and four block assists in a 3-0 sweep of NEC foe Saint Francis (Pa.).

In one of the strongest performances by a freshman setter in RMU history, Bennett led her team in assists with 138 and hitting percentage with a .550 average in the tournament. She was also third on the team in blocks with seven and third in service aces with four. The California native's performance earned her all-tournament team honors.

The Colonials will head to DeLand, Fla., this weekend with RMU's strongest start since 1987. The squad will face College of Charleston, Nicholls State, The Citadel and Stetson Friday, Sept. 5, and Saturday, 6.