May 29, 2001

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Four members of the University of Virginia women's rowing team's first varsity eight crew have earned All-South Region honors from the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA). Junior Madeline Engel (Mercer Island, Wash.), sophomore Risa Mandzuk (St. Catharines, Ontario) and freshman Marlies Smulders (Almere, Netherlands) earned first-team All-South honors, while graduate student Jennifer Herberger (Herndon, Va.) earned second-team recognition.

In addition, Mandzuk and Margot Noordzij (Oegstgeest, Netherlands) were named National Women's Rowing Scholar-Athletes by the CRCA. Noordzij graduated from UVa on May 20. In order to be considered for the award, an individual must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, be in at least her second year of eligibility and have rowed with her school's first varsity eight crew for at least 75 percent of the 2001 season's races.

Virginia's first varsity eight finished 15th at the 2001 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships and the Cavaliers were seventh in the final team standings. UVa's first varsity eight won that competition at both the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships and the George Washington Invitational Crew Classic this spring.