McGraw Chosen for All-NWC Scholar-Athlete First Team

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University volleyball player Jessie McGraw (Sr., OH, Gaston, OR/Yamhill Carlton HS/Corban College) has been selected for the 2009-10 All-Northwest Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team. One female athlete and one male athlete from each NWC member college or university was chosen for the award.

McGraw graduated this spring with a major in Anthropology. She achieved a 3.78 cumulative grade point average.

In 2009, McGraw was a key player and served as team captain for the Bearcats, as WU improved from ninth place to fifth place in the NWC with an 8-8 record in the conference standings. Willamette went 6-2 over the second half of the NWC schedule and finished the season with an 11-13 overall record.

During the season, she led Willamette with 271 kills (3.3 per game) and 303 digs (3.7 per game). She also earned a .227 hitting percentage and provided the team with 22 service aces. McGraw was named Second Team All-NWC. She concluded her Bearcat career with a total of 777 kills to go along with 809 digs.

Off the court, McGraw was on the Dean's List and qualified for the Honor Roll. She volunteered at the Chemawa Indian School and served as a volunteer coach with a youth volleyball team.