PHILADELPHIA, PA (May 8, 2010) – At the largest collegiate regatta in the nation, the Vassar College women's varsity 8 rowed the best race of its season en route to winning the Division III Championship on Saturday at the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. The Dad Vail Regatta features over 100 colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada.

The victorious varsity 8 featured senior captain Christina Peltier (stroke), sophomore Hannah Siebens (7 seat), junior Alina von Korff (6 seat), sophomore Kamela Caschette (5 seat), senior Nicole Clark (4 seat), senior captain Caroline Jolley (3 seat), junior Kate Frost (2 seat), freshman Emma Russell (bow), and sophomore Jessica Panico at coxswain.

"Our 8 just got stronger as the regatta went on, progressing all the way to the grand final event where they put together their strongest performance of the year," said head coach Rodney Mott. "I was able to follow the complete race by bike and was extremely impressed with the effort put forth as they walked though every crew in the race with great power and desire throughout, eventually winning by open water over the entire field.”

The Brewers were among six teams to advance to the grand final event, topping the field with a time of 7:55.490 to beat out second place University of Rochester (8:00.396) with Mary Washington University (8:15.952) rounding out the top three. Skidmore College – which finished second and one spot ahead of Vassar at this year's Liberty League Championship – placed fourth on Saturday (8:23.272), while Washington College (8:29.542) finished fifth and Marietta University was excluded.