Simmons Captures 2010 GNAC Championship

Simmons Tennis captured their third consecutive GNAC title on Sunday with a 5-2 win over Emerson College. The Championship, Simmons' sixth in the past seven years, gives the Sharks automatic entry into the 2011 NCAA tournament.

Emerson took an early 1-0 lead after capturing first doubles, 8-3. Simmons tied the match when Maggie Taylor (Yarmouth, Maine) and Katy Hallinan (Maynard, Mass.) won No. 3 doubles, 8-5. The No. 2 doubles team of Margaret Teague (Manchester, Mass.) and Andreé Simé (Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadaloupe) soon followed with an 8-5 win to give Simmons a 2-1 overall lead heading into the singles.

Simmons took a 3-1 lead when Hallinan won her tenth consecutive match. Emerson closed the gap when GNAC Player of the Year Savannah Mosser defeated senior Maile Macleod (Carlsbad, Calif.). Taylor then gave the Sharks a 4-2 lead with a decisive victory at No. 6 singles.

After a lengthy rain delay, freshman Allison Bodek (Lynnfield, Mass.) clinched the title with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles.

"Our depth really showed in the playoffs,” said Head Coach Bob Rauseo. “Despite missing our top player Sabrina Salmela due to injury, we still managed to find a way to win as a team. Seven players had victories this weekend. It is this depth that has continually led to our success."

The Sharks will next face off against MIT on April 23, 2011 in preparation for the 2011 NCAA Tournament, to be held in May.

 *Courtesy Simmons College Athletics Communication