POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 23, 2009) – Though the winter season is still young, Vassar athletes are already racking up notable performances as evidenced by the 11 weekly Liberty League honors awarded to Vassar on Monday. For men's basketball, sophomore Caleb McGraw was honored, while senior Emily Haeuser and freshman Tori Chaltain represented women's hoops. Senior Emilie Kraft and freshman Libby Pei were recognized for their role in leading the women's squash team to its second consecutive Liberty League title. For men's swim-dive, sophomore Jack Smart, sophomore diver Greg Sullivan and freshman Nicholas Veazie were honored while junior Samantha Jones and freshman Shannon Sara represented women's swim-dive.

Caleb McGraw, Sophomore, Men's Basketball Guard of the Week
Following a pair of 18-point contests against Newbury and No. 5 ranked Richard Stockton at the Vassar Invitational, McGraw was named to the All-Invitational team. McGraw earned a career-high nine rebounds against Stockton, shot better than 40 percent from the floor and was perfect (6-for-6) from the line. He averaged 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in the two games. McGraw has been named Guard of the Week both weeks of the season.

Emily Haeuser, Senior, Women's Basketball Forward of the Week
Haeuser accumulated 47 points and 25 rebounds and was named to the Colby Invitational All-Tournament Team as the Brewers went 1-1 at the Invitational over the weekend. In Vassar's 77-71 win over Thomas College on Saturday, Haeuser almost single-handedly led the Brewers to the victory, scoring a career high 34 points, including ten consecutive points in an 11-1 Vassar run that gave the Brewers the decisive lead late in the second half after trailing by 17 points at halftime. Haeuser, who scored 23 of her 34 points in the second half, shot 11-for-17 from the floor, and 12-for-14 from the line, while also pulling down 13 rebounds and contributing two assists and two steals. Haeuser's 34 points was the highest single game total for a women's basketball player in the last ten years. In Friday's loss to host Colby on Friday, Haeuser led the Brewers with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double, to go along with a game-high four steals. Haeuser is quickly moving towards the 1, 000 point milestone with 971 career points. The first Liberty League honor for Haeuser this season represents the fifth of her career, with three Forward of the Week and two Rookie of the Week honors.

Tori Chaltain, Freshman, Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week
Chaltain averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds in two games for the Brewers as Vassar went 1-1 in the Colby Invitational over the weekend. In her 10-point, six-rebound, three-steal performance against Thomas College on Saturday, Chaltain completed Vassar's comeback after trailing by 17 points at halftime, as her offensive rebound and putback gave Vassar what would prove to be the decisive lead with 2:30 to play, as the Brewers held on for a 77-71 win. In Vassar's loss to host Colby on Friday night, Chaltain was one rebound shy of her first career double-double, with ten points and a career-high nine rebounds. This is Chaltain's first career Liberty League honor.

Emilie Kraft, Senior, Women's Squash Performer of the Week
Kraft led Vassar to its second consecutive Liberty League title over the weekend, going 2-0 at the No. 1 spot as the Brewers defeated St. Lawrence and William Smith, both by a score of 8-1. Kraft did not drop a game in the championships, defeating St. Lawrence's Sofi Garnett 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 on Saturday and downing William Smith's Julia Steck 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 in Sunday's victory. Kraft has 11 career weekly Liberty League awards, ten as Performer of the Week and one as Rookie of the Week. It is the second honor of Kraft's senior season.

Libby Pei, Freshman, Women's Squash Rookie of the Week
Playing in her first Liberty League Championships, Pei went 2-0 at the No. 4 spot as Vassar won its second consecutive league title with 8-1 wins over St. Lawrence and William Smith. Pei notched two convincing 3-0 wins, defeating Jackie Barrett of Saint Lawrence 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 on Saturday and winning an 11-5, 11-2, 11-2 match over William Smith's Sarah Hallberg on Sunday. Pei has now been named Rookie of the Week twice.

Jack Smart, Sophomore, Men's Swim-Dive Swimmer of the Week
Smart notched two individual wins in Vassar's 173-73 win over Pace University on Friday and followed that up with an impressive come-from-behind win on Saturday as the Brewers dropped a close 126-101 decision to a strong New Paltz team. On Friday, Smart won the 100 Breast (1:04.56) and 200 Breast (2:16.77). On Saturday, after trailing two New Paltz swimmers for much of the 400 IM, Smart gained ground during the final two strokes of the race – the breast and free, both his strengths – to win in 4:24.31 bringing a large Vassar crowed to its feet. Smart has two Swimmer of the Week honors this season.

Greg Sullivan, Sophomore, Men's Swim-Dive Diver of the Week
In Vassar's win over Pace University on Friday, Sullivan picked up NCAA qualifying scores in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives, in the process breaking his own Vassar records, set last season. Sullivan scored a 290.32 to win the 1-meter, breaking his previous record of 289.65. In the 3-meter, Sullivan won with a score of 323.84, destroying his old record of 306.83, and recording the second of two necessary NCAA qualifying scores in the event. Against New Paltz the following day, Sullivan set the bar even higher in the 3-meter, winning the event with a score of 334.05, to again set the school record. Sullivan also won the 1-meter with a score of 272.85. This is Sullivan's first Diver of the Week award this season and his seventh overall.

Nicholas Veazie, Freshman, Men's Swim-Dive Rookie of the Week
Veazie took home three total wins over the weekend, with two in Vassar's 173-73 win over Pace University on Friday, and one the following day against a talented New Paltz team. Against Pace, Veazie won the 200 Fly (2:08.19) and 500 Free (5:09.35). Although Vassar swam the 200 IM as an exhibition, Veazie had the top time in that event as well (2:10.43). Veazie pulled out a close win against New Paltz in the 100 Fly, winning in 57.53 to narrowly edge the second place New Paltz swimmer who finished in 57.85. Veazie also placed second in the 200 Free (1:51.29). This is the second time this season Veazie has been named Rookie of the Week.

Samantha Jones, Junior, Women's Swim-Dive Swimmer of the Week
Jones led Vassar in back-to-back events this weekend, with four total individual and one relay win. In Vassar's 174-118 win over Pace University on Friday, Jones swam on the winning 200 Medley Relay team (1:57.20) and won the 100 Back (1:02.78), 50 Free (26.28), and 200 Back (2:18.91). In Vassar's close 128-102 loss to New Paltz on Saturday, Jones narrowly out-touched her opponent to win the 50 Free, finishing just .02 seconds faster than her New Paltz opponent with a time of 26.08. She also placed second in the 100 Back (1:03.37). This is the second time this season Jones has been honored as Swimmer of the Week.

Shannon Sara, Freshman, Women's Swim-Dive Rookie of the Week
Sara set two personal bests with wins in the 200 Free (1:59.81) and 500 Free (5:22.12) as Vassar defeated Pace University, 174-118, on Friday. She also swam on the winning 200 Medley Relay team (1:57.20). The following day, in Vassar's close 128-102 loss to a talented New Paltz team, Sara gave the Brewers a convincing win in the 400 IM. The freshman finished in 4:49.33, over six seconds faster than the second-place New Paltz finisher. Sara has been honored as Rookie of the Week twice this season.