POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 6, 2009) – The fall and winter seasons merge this weekend, as women’s volleyball and cross country compete in championship events, while the squash, swim-dive, and fencing programs begin their 2009-10 seasons. The Athletics & Fitness Center will be a hive of activity for the second consecutive weekend, as women’s volleyball hosts the Liberty League Championships after winning the Vassar Invitational last weekend.
Women’s volleyball (21-8) charges into the Liberty League Championships with a head of steam after going 5-1 in its last six matches, including a 3-1 title run at the Vassar Invitational and a convincing 3-0 win over SUNY Purchase on Senior Day. Freshman
Chloe McGuire was named the Invitational MVP and fellow freshman
Hilary Koenigs joined McGuire on the All-Invitational Team.
This weekend Vassar will look to capture its first Liberty League title since 2006. The Brewers, seeded No. 2, open play against No. 5 Union College on Friday at 4:00 p.m., followed by an 8:00 p.m. match with No. 3 St. Lawrence University. On Saturday, Vassar faces No. 4 Skidmore College at 1:00 p.m. and concludes the championship with a big matchup against top seed Clarkson University at 3:00 p.m.
The cross country teams will also be competing in a postseason event, at the ECAC Championships hosted by Williams College on Saturday. Last season the men placed fifth out of 48 teams led by a third place finish from graduated senior Anthony Lucero. This year the Brewers will look to junior
Jon Erickson and freshman Yaron Teich who have consistently led Vassar, collectively compiling seven top ten finishes. The women finished eighth out of 42 teams last season, paced by then-freshman
Johanna Spangler’s second place finish. Spangler, who has finished in the top five in every race this year, including three first place finishes, should lead the pack again this Saturday.
Men’s and women’s squash open their seasons at home, with a 2:00 p.m. match against Haverford College on Saturday. Last year, the women began the year with a 9-0 sweep of Haverford en route to a successful 11-8 season. The men, who were swept by the Fords last season, will look to start this year strong after going 3-1 in its final four matches of 2008-09.
The swim-dive teams head to Skidmore for a dual meet at 1:00 p.m. to open the 2009-10 season. Both teams will look to repeat their success against the Thoroughbreds last year, as the men earned a 165-117 win and the women picked up a 175-112 victory.
Men’s and women’s fencing head to Smith College for the annual season kickoff, the Big One. The men earned five medals last season and went on to compile a 13-9 season. Vassar will look to junior
Andrew Fischl in sabre, and senior
Zach Pattison-Gordon in epee to repeat their success at the Big One. The women, who were 13-14 last season, earned a medal at the event last season and had an impressive performance from epeeist
Sophie Courser.