Women's Basketball | 10/8/2025 1:30:00 PM
Granville, Ohio - The 2025-26 Kay Yow Award has been announced, and Denison women's basketball senior Jess Zittel (Eden, NY/Eden) has been named one of 62 women across Division I, II, and III to win this award.
The Kay Yow Award is an annual award presented to women's basketball players from all three NCAA divisions who demonstrate a selfless commitment to service both on and off the court. In its inaugural year, 26 women who embodied a servant spirit that benefited teammates and their community received this award. To achieve this award is a great honor and acknowledges those who put others over themselves, and do so in a way with grace and humility.
Zittel, a senior guard, is the first Denison player in the program to receive this award. During her time as a Big Red, Zittel has been recognized as a top 50 scholar-athlete in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years and was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma in the 2024-25 year.
"I am so grateful to be recognized among so many inspiring leaders, and to carry forward Coach Yow's incredible legacy," Zittel stated. "To me, wearing the Servant Leader patch is a reminder that true leadership means uplifting others and fighting for causes so much greater than yourself."
Zittel expresses her appreciation to her family, teammates, coaches, and professors for supporting her throughout her journey, which has led to her being named a recipient of the Kay Yow Award. "I am especially grateful to have had the role model of my coach, who has battled Hodgkin's lymphoma with extraordinary courage. Coach Mo's strength and love for our team, despite facing one of the hardest battles of her life, has been one of the most powerful examples of what it means to serve, to lead, and to inspire hope."
"We are incredibly excited to have Jess represent Denison women's basketball on the national stage," Coach Maureen Hirt said. "From her dedicated research on cancer care in America, to the way she shows up for her teammates—celebrating their successes, encouraging them through struggles, and always providing a positive outlook on the task at hand—Jess is a servant leader to her core."
