Simmons Wins 2009 GNAC Women's Tennis Championship
Simmons Tennis captured the 2009 Great Northeast Athletic
Conference Women’s Tennis Championship on Sunday, besting #2
seed Suffolk University 6-0 to take the title for the fifth time in
six years. The GNAC Championship caps a perfect 8-0 conference
record for the Sharks in 2009.
The Sharks’ duo of freshman Sabrina Salmela (Beverly, Mass.)
and junior captain Maile Macleod (Carlsbad, Calif.) was dominant in
the #1 doubles position over Suffolk’s Alex Hernandez and
Lauren Cameron, giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Maggie
Taylor (Yarmouth, Maine) and sophomore Liza Pope (West Newbury,
Mass.) quickly followed in the #2 spot with an 8-3 victory over
Kelly Conrad and Rebecca Copeland to bring the score to 2-0.
Senior captain Jordan Borash (Marblehead, Mass.) and junior Katy
Hallinan (Maynard, Mass.) finished strong with an 8-5 win over
Celia Contreras and Brianna Koch at #3 doubles to increase
Simmons’ lead to 3-0, heading into the singles
competition.
Hallinan produced a 6-0, 6-2, straight set win over Conrad to put
the score at 4-0. Borash defeated Chloe Oldfather, 6-1, 6-2, at #6
to secure the Sharks’ victory. Salmela finished shortly after
with a dominating 6-1, 6-1 performance at #1.
"Overall, this was an amazing season,” said Simmons Head
Coach Bob Rauseo. “Not only did we have the best player and
doubles team in the GNAC, we had the deepest team. We knew the
Suffolk match would be entertaining, and it didn't disappoint. We
played great defense and kept the errors down to take control of
the match."
With the GNAC victory, the Sharks secure a spot in the spring 2010
NCAA tournament, to be held May 14-16.
All Conference First Team - Singles
Kayleigh Holt, Sr., Emerson, Somerset, MA
Taylor Dey, Fr., Emmanuel, Woodbridge, CT
Katy Hallinan, Jr., Simmons, Maynard, MA
Maile Macleod, Jr., Simmons, Carlsbad, CA
Sabrina Salmela, Fr., Simmons, Beverly, MA
Lauren Cameron, So., Suffolk, Kingston, Jamaica
All Conference Second Team - Singles
Jenna Reid, Fr., Emmanuel, Lincoln, RI
Nory Hayes, Sr., Emmanuel, Newport, RI
Megan Harrington, Jr., Emmanuel, Leicester, MA
Haley Nutter, Fr., Johnson & Wales, Symmes Township, OH
Elyse Allard, Sr., Saint Joseph (CT), Plainfield, CT
Alex Hernandez, Jr., Suffolk, Newton, MA
All Conference First Team - Doubles
Sabrina Salmela, Fr., Simmons, Beverly, MA
Maile Macleod, Jr., Simmons, Carlsbad, CA
All Conference Second Team - Doubles
Lauren Cameron, So., Suffolk, Kingston, Jamaica
Alex Hernandez, Jr., Suffolk, Newton, MA
Player of the Year
Sabrina Salmela, Simmons
Rookie of the Year
Sabrina Salmela, Simmons
Coach of the Year
Mason Astley, Emerson
All Conference Sportsmanship Team
Kendra Dowen, Sr., Albertus, Magnus Montpelier, VT
Erika West, So., Emerson, Trainer, PA
Megan Harrington, Jr., Emmanuel, Leceister, MA
Amber Dea, Sr., Johnson & Wales, Honeybrook, PA
Amey Grella, Sr., Mount Ida, Amherst, NH
Aisha Engram, Pine Manor
Alicia Lienhop, Jr., Saint Joseph (CT), Centereach, NY
Maile Macleod, Jr., Simmons, Carlsbad, CA
Rebecca Copeland, So., Suffolk, Bristol, RI
Courtesy: Simmons College Athletic Communications
