POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 25, 2010) – After defending its title at the Liberty League Championships this season, the Vassar College women's squash team was honored accordingly with league Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, and five All-League First Team recognitions, as voted on by coaches around the league.

Senior Emilie Kraft capped her impressive career by being named Player of the Year for the third consecutive season while freshman Libby Pei, named Rookie of the Year, looks poised to fill Kraft's shoes. Head coach Jane Parker earned her third consecutive and fourth overall Coach of the Year honor. Kraft, Pei, junior Kristine Bell, senior Hope Blinkoff, and senior Caitlin Ly represented Vassar on the First Team.

Coaching Staff of the Year: Head Coach Jane Parker, Assistant Coaches Tony Brown and Stephanie Rider
The Vassar coaching staff led Vassar to its second straight Liberty League title, which the Brewers won in convincing fashion with 8-1 wins over William Smith and St. Lawrence. The Brewers compiled a 9-7 record, the eighth time in Parker's 10 years at Vassar that her team finished the season with a winning record. The Brewers narrowly missed winning the Walker Cup at the CSA Team Championships, advancing to the title match where they dropped a 5-4 decision to George Washington University. Vassar finished with a No. 18 College Squash Association (CSA) national ranking.

Player of the Year, First Team: Senior Emilie Kraft
In her fourth year playing in the No. 1 position for Vassar, Kraft went 11-8 as a senior to increase her career record to 48-27. Kraft led the Brewers to their second consecutive Liberty League title this season, sweeping the No. 1 players from both William Smith and St. Lawrence. Kraft earned four Player of the Week honors this season and represented Vassar at the CSA Individual Championships where she went 1-2.

Kraft concludes a remarkable career for Vassar where she was the team's No. 1 player for four years. Kraft led the Brewers to their first ever Liberty League title last season and repeated the feat this year. As a sophomore, Kraft recovered from a two-month layoff with illness to win the deciding match against Amherst and lead Vassar to the 2008 Walker Cup title at the CSA Team Championships. A three-time Player of the Year, Kraft amassed 15 Performer of the Week recognitions throughout her career.

Rookie of the Year, First Team: Freshman Libby Pei
Pei went 10-6 in her debut season, playing at the 3,4, and 5 spots. She swept both her opponents at No. 4 as Vassar defeated William Smith and St. Lawrence to defend its Liberty League title. A three-time Rookie of the Week, Pei had an impressive start to her collegiate career, going 6-1 in Vassar's first seven matches.

First Team, Junior Kristine Bell
Bell was 10-8 at the No. 2 spot for Vassar and represented the Brewers at the CSA Individual Championships where she dropped two tough matches to opponents from Middlebury and Williams. She won both her matches at the Liberty League championships to help Vassar defend its title. Bell was named Player of the Week on February 15.

First Team, Senior Hope Blinkoff
Blinkoff played at the No. 3, 4, and 5 positions throughout the season, compiling a 9-7 record in her senior year. She won three of her final four matches to help boost her career record to .500, 31-31. Playing at No. 3 in the Liberty League Championships, Blinkoff rebounded from a loss to St. Lawrence in the opening match with a win against William Smith to help the Brewers defend their title.

First Team, Senior Caitlin Ly
Playing at the No. 3, 4, and 5 spots throughout the season, Ly closed out the year strong in the No. 3 position. Ly went 9-6 in her final season to finish her career with a 29-20 record. Playing at No. 5 in the Liberty Leagues, Ly won both her matches to help Vassar defend its title.