WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior Michaela O'Connor (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and first-year Lauren Carnes (Westfield, Mass.) both earned recognition as part of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly awards after a productive week for the Owls.

O'Connor was named the MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week after registering 52 digs and three service aces as part of a 2-1 week for the Owls to claim the MASCAC Regular Season title.

The senior libero posted a career-high 29 digs to lead the Owls defensive efforts in a 3-0 win over Eastern Connecticut State, then added 18 more in a sweep over Fitchburg State that clinched a perfect 7-0 mark in league play for the Owls.

On the season, O'Connor has recorded double-digit digs in 11 of her last 12 contests. She is second on the Owls with 303 digs across 25 matches entering postseason play.

Carnes received the MASCAC Rookie of the Week honors after compiling 31 kills, a .276 hitting percentage, ten digs, and three blocks to help the Owls to an outright conference regular season title.

The first-year outside hitter pounded out 12 kills and chipped in six digs as the Owls wrapped up the conference regular season with a win over Fitchburg. She also tallied 12 kills and three blocks in a sweep of Eastern Connecticut earlier in the week.

On the year, Carnes is second on the Owls with 158 kills and leads Westfield with a .188 hitting percentage.

Westfield State secured the number one overall seed in the MASCAC Tournament and will host a conference semifinal match on Thursday at 7:00 P.M. with an opponent still to be announced.