NEW YORK - The Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) announced its weekly women's volleyball award winners Tuesday morning, and Yeshiva University freshman outside hitter, Makena Owens (Sammamish, Wash.) has been selected as its Rookie of the Week for her performance in the Maccabees' two matches prior to the commencement of their holiday break.

One of three products of Northwest Yeshiva High School on head coach Roxanne Prendergast's team this season (in addition to junior opposite/defensive specialist Shira Genauer, and senior setter and team captain, Moriah Green), Owens's offensive exploits Wednesday night (Sept. 12) sparked YU to a three-set victory in a non-conference match against Maritime College. She put down a match-best seven kills on a .412 hitting percentage, and ranked second on the team with three aces from the service line. Twenty-four hours prior in a Skyline Conference contest at College of Mount Saint Vincent, she passed eight digs on the backline for Yeshiva.

On the season, Owens leads the team with 10 service aces and 26 points through six matches played, and is tied for second on the team (with Green) with 16 kills - just one shy of team leader, sophomore Jackie Berger.

Yeshiva is back on the court for a Skyline Conference match at Maritime College, Oct. 11, with first serve from Throggs Neck, N.Y., slated for 8 p.m.