POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 9, 20090 – Proving that Vassar College athletes continue to raise the bar, Monday saw a record 13 Brewers receive weekly Liberty League awards, breaking the previous record of ten set on September 28. As they near the end of their cross country season, freshmen Samuel Wagner and Kelly Holmes and sophomore Johanna Spangler are still running strong, as Wagner and Holmes were named Rookies of the Week, and Spangler earned Performer of the Week honors. On the other end of the spectrum, men's and women's squash started their seasons off strong, sweeping the awards with freshmen Andrew Lindsay and Elisabeth Pei named Rookies of the Week and seniors Henk Isom and Emilie Kraft honored as Performers of the Week. The men's and women's swim-dive teams also started the season with promise, as freshmen Nicholas Veazie and Shannon Sara were Rookies of the Week, sophomore Christie Musket earned a program first Diver of the Week, while sophomore Jack Smart and junior Samantha Jones were named Performers of the Week. Closing out her season in style was women's volleyball freshman Hilary Koenigs, who was named Rookie of the Week.

Samuel Wagner, Freshman, Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
In finishing 13th overall in a field of 296 runners, Wagner earned All-ECAC honors competing in his first-ever championships. His time of 27:22.6 led the Brewers for the first time this season and propelled the team to a 5th place finish in a field of 43 teams. This is Wagner's second Rookie of the Week award.

Johanna Spangler, Sophomore, Women's Cross Country Performer of the Week
After finishing second in the ECAC Championships as a freshman, Spangler left nothing to doubt as a sophomore, winning the individual title in the 6000 meter race. Spangler's victory was the first-ever for a Vassar runner at the event. Her time of 22:51.6 was four seconds ahead of Middlebury's Sarah Lange, who Spangler had battled with throughout the race. In topping the field of 275 runners, Spangler led the Brewers to a 4th place finish out of 39 teams. This is the fourth week this season Spangler has been named Performer of the Week.

Kelly Holmes, Freshman, Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Holmes, who has steadily improved throughout her freshman year, finished 12th out of 275 runners in her first-ever ECAC competition. Her 24:02 time enabled the Brewers to finish 4th in a 39 team field. Holmes trailed only two freshmen runners in the top ten, both of whom finished second and third for the overall champion Middlebury College. Holmes has now been the Rookie of the Week on five occasions.

Henk Isom, Senior, Men's Squash Performer of the Week
Isom gave Vassar a convincing win at the No. 3 spot as Vassar opened up its season with a 5-4 win over Haverford on Saturday. Isom defeated Haverford's Matt Liscovitz, 3-0 (11-2, 11-8, 11-8). This is Isom's first career Liberty League award, and the first for the program since the 2006-07 season.

Andrew Lindsay, Freshman, Men's Squash Rookie of the Week
Lindsay opened his collegiate career with a victory at the No. 6 spot, helping Vassar win its season-opener, 5-4 over Haverford on Saturday. After earning a tough 12-10 win over Haverford's Tim Ibbotson-Sindelar in the first game, Lindsay won 11-2 and 11-6 to pick up the sweep. Lindsay's first career Liberty League award is also the program's first Rookie of the Week honor since the 2004-05 season.

Emilie Kraft, Senior, Women's Squash Performer of the Week
Kraft dropped just two points in her 3-0 (11-2, 11-0, 11-0) win over Vanessa Sergon at the No. 1 spot as she led Vassar to a 9-0 season-opening win over Haverford on Saturday. The first Liberty League award of the season marks the tenth career Performer of the Week honor for Kraft, a two-time Liberty League Player of the Year.

Elisabeth Pei, Freshman, Women's Squash Rookie of the Week
In her first collegiate match, Pei helped Vassar sweep Haverford 9-0 in its season-opener. Playing at the No. 4 spot, Pei won 3-0 (11-3, 11-2, 11-3) over Margo Schall. This is the first career Liberty League award for Pei.

Jack Smart, Sophomore, Men's Swim-Dive Performer of the Week
Smart started off the season strong with three individual wins in Vassar's 154-121 win over Skidmore on Saturday. Smart picked up convincing wins in the 100 Breast (1:02.28) and 200 Breast (2:19.12), with at least four seconds between him and the second place finishers in both races. Smart then capped his day with a victory in the 100 Fly (58.34), edging the second place Skidmore finisher by .18 seconds. This is Smart's first career Performer of the Week award, after being honored as Rookie of the Week last season.

Nicholas Veazie, Freshman, Men's Swim-Dive Rookie of the Week
Veazie started his collegiate career with a bang, taking home three individual wins as Vassar defeated Skidmore 154-121, in its season opener on Saturday. Veazie picked up convincing wins in the 200 Free (1:52.99), 200 Fly (2:14.75), and 200 Back (2:06.10). Veazie's winning 200 Back time was 16 seconds faster than the second place finisher, and had at least six seconds of separation in his two other wins. This is the first career Liberty League award for Veazie.

Samantha Jones, Junior, Women's Swim-Dive Performer of the Week
Jones notched three individual and one relay win in Vassar's season-opening 172-122 win over Skidmore on Saturday. Jones picked up individual wins in the 100 Fly (1:03.30), 100 Back (1:03.68), and 200 Back (2:19.33) with a convincing win of over five seconds in the 200 Back. She also swam on the winning 200 Medley Relay team which won with a time of 1:57.03. This is the first career Performer of the Week honor, who was a two-time Rookie of the Week.

Christie Musket, Sophomore, Women's Swim-Dive Diver of the Week
A first-year diver, Musket gave an impressive debut in Vassar's season-opening 172-122 win over Skidmore on Saturday. Musket won the 1-meter with a score of 181.05 and finished second in the 3-meter, scoring a 150.60. Musket's first career Diver of the Week award is also the first ever for a Vassar female diver.

Shannon Sara, Freshman, Women's Swim-Dive Rookie of the Week
In her collegiate debut, Sara made an immediate impact, with three individual and one relay win as Vassar downed Skidmore 172-122 on Saturday. Sara won the 200 IM (2:18.13), 200 Free (2:03.41), and 500 Free (5:31.52). Her win in the 500 Free came by a margin of nearly 13 seconds. Sara also swam on the winning 200 Medley Relay team which won with a time of 1:57.03. This is the first career Liberty League award for Sara.

Hilary Koenigs, Freshman, Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Koenigs was named to the Liberty League Championship All-Tournanment Team after leading Vassar to a 3-1 record and into the title match against Clarkson. In four matches, Koenigs had 166 set assists (10.38), including a 52 set effort against Skidmore that included a new career high of 163 total attempts. She had more than 30 set assists in all four matches. At the tournament, Koenigs was named the Liberty League Rookie of Year. In her standout debut season, Koenigs was named Rookie of the Year seven times and Performer of the Week once.