POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 29, 2010) – Six Vassar athletes, two each from men's and women's tennis and women's track and field, were honored by the Liberty League in recognition of outstanding performances over the past week. The brother duo of sophomore Ben and freshman Andrew Guzick earned Performer and Rookie of the Week honors for men's tennis, while sophomore Jennifer Beckerman and freshman Jennifer Ruther were similarly honored for women's tennis. Representing women's track and field, sophomore Johanna Spangler was named the Performer of the Week, with freshman Laura Van Eerde named Rookie of the Week.

Ben Guzick, Sophomore, Men's Tennis Performer of the Week
At No. 2 singles, Guzick spearheaded Vassar's first-ever victory over NESCAC power Tufts. Behind Guzick's 6-2, 7-5 victory over Jake Fountain, the No. 24 nationally ranked Brewers cruised to an impressive 8-1 victory. Guzick also teamed with younger brother Andrew at No. 1 doubles and the duo won convincingly, 8-3, over Karl Victoria and Fountain. On the season, Guzick is now 13-1 in singles and 6-2 in doubles. This is Guzick's third Performer of the Week honor.

Andrew Guzick, Freshman, Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
The freshman was a key ingredient for the No. 24 nationally ranked Vassar men's tennis team in its first-ever victory over NESCAC power Tufts. Guzick helped lead the Brewers to an 8-1 victory with an 6-1, 6-2 blitz of Sam Laber at No. 3 singles. He then teamed with his older brother Ben to take the No. 1 doubles match with an 8-3 victory over Karl Victoria and Jake Fountain. The victories raised Guzick's record to 14-3 in singles and 15-4 in doubles. Guzick has been named Rookie of the Week seven times this season.

Jennifer Beckerman, Sophomore, Women's Tennis Performer of the Week
Beckerman went 4-0 at No. 2 singles as Vassar won its first Seven Sisters Championship since 2005, defeating four-time defending champion Wellesley, 3-2, in the championship match. Beckerman earned Vassar's only singles win against Wellesley, defeating Jacqueline Shen, 6-4, 6-4. It was by far the closest match for Beckerman, who dropped just three games combined in her other three contests as she improved to 15-5 in singles play on the season. For Beckerman, the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year and seven-time Rookie of the Week, this is the first Performer of the Week honor of her career.

Jennifer Ruther, Freshman, Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Ruther improved to 16-2 in her freshman season as she went 3-1 at No. 3 singles at the Seven Sisters Championship as Vassar took home the trophy for the first time since 2005, defeating four-time champion Wellesley, 3-2, in the championship match. Ruther won her first three matches with two sweeps, and a 6-0, 2-6 (10-6) win over Carly Peltier of Mt. Holyoke. In the championship match against Wellesley, Ruther lost just her second match of the season, and her first in 15 matches as she fell 6-3, 6-3 to Meghan Stubblebine. This is the third Rookie of the Week honor for Ruther.

Johanna Spangler, Sophomore, Women's Track Performer of the Week
In her first attempt at the event, Spangler finished second in the 10k at the RPI Invitational on Saturday, in the process qualifying for the ECAC Championships with a time of 37:40.29. Spangler barely missed the NCAA Championships qualifying time of 37:30 by ten seconds. Just two weeks into the season, this is the second time Spangler has been named Performer of the Week.

Laura Van Eerde, Freshman, Women's Track Rookie of the Week
In her first collegiate event, at the RPI Invitational on Saturday, Van Eerde placed second in the javelin, setting school records in both that event and the discus. Van Eerde recorded a distance of 31.19 meters in her second-place finish in the javelin. This is the first career Liberty League honor for Van Eerde.