By: Kisha Tapangan

Communications Specialist

Simmons College leads the 2010-2011 pre-season polls for women’s tennis based on vote from all GNAC coaches.  The Simmons Sharks were coming from a GNAC Women’s Tennis Championship and also advancing to the second round before falling to the #1 seeded Amherst  in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. 

The Suffolk women’s team ranked second trailing Simmons by 10 points.  Suffolk finished up last season with a record of 4-2 and third overall.  Rounding off the top six are Emerson with 49 points, Emmanuel with 45, Johnson & Wales with 38 and finally St. Joseph’s of Connecticut with 27.

1. Simmons (63)

2. Suffolk (53)

3. Emerson (49)

4. Emmanuel (45)

5. JWU (38)                           

6. St. Joesph's CT (27)

1. Simmons (63)

Overall, Simmons was undefeated in the GNAC last season with a record of 10-0 and 15-7 overall record.  Mailie Macleod will be entering her senior year at Simmons and was also one of last season’s team captains. Macleod along with Sabrina Salmela were the doubles leaders for Simmons with an overall record of 12-6. Simmons’ sophomore Sabrina Salmela was named both Rookie of the Year last year and Player of the Year for her spotless record in #1 GNAC singles play. Melissa Keroack will be also be returning as a sophomore in 2010 after finishing fourth overall in women’s singles.  Keroack finished with a perfect record of 3-0 and greatly contributed to Simmons’ dominating finished at first place. 

The Sharks will open the 2010 season against Wheaton at 1:00 PM on September 4, 2010.

2. Suffolk (53)

Suffolk closed 2009 with a GNAC record of 6-2 and overall record of 8-4.  The Rams boasts a dominating Lauren Cameron, who will be entering her junior year at Suffolk.  Cameron was undefeated last season with a perfect record of 10-0.  The doubles team of Lauren Cameron and Alex Hernandez lost only one match and finished at 8-1. 

The Suffolk Rams will kick off their 2010 season against Regis on September 3, 2010 at 1:00 PM

3. Emerson (49)

Emerson College was 6-2 overall and finished second in the GNAC conference with a record of 5-1.  Team standouts include the return of the #2 singles player in Lauren Miley who finished with a record of 6-3.  The Emerson ladies are counting on the six returning starters to pick up where they left off last season.  Emerson also dominated the overall doubles ranking for the GNAC with more three teams finishing within the top 10 teams.

Emerson’s season begins against Wentworth on September 9, 2010 at 4:00 PM.

4. Emmanuel (45)

Emmanuel’2 2009 season ended with news of four of their players making it to the All-Conference team for the GNAC.  Although Emmanuel’s tenure at the NCAA Division III National Tournament was cut short by the Simmons women’s tennis team, the Saints still finished 11-5 overall and 5-3 in the GNAC.  Emmanuel finished fourth overall in the conference and had two of the best doubles teams: Eliza Hamilton/Gina Varamo, Chrissy Laboissonnie/Kailey Smith both finishing in the top four in the GNAC.  Taylor Dey returns in 2010 as a junior after a a 12-2 record in 2009.

Emmanuel faces Rhode Island College on September 7, 2010 at 4:00 PM.

5. Johnson & Wales University  (38)                                 

Johnson & Wales University ended last season with a 6-7 overall record and a was 5-3 in the GNAC.  Johnson & Wales also finished in fifth place as of the 2009 standings right behind Emmanuel College. The women’s tennis team boasts mostly freshman and sophomore talent with Laura Shwenk leading the way.  Shwenk ended the season with a 8-3 record and looks to continue to her success in 2010. 

JWU begins their season against UMASS Dartmouth on September 4, 2010 at 11:00 AM

6. St. Joseph’s CT (27)

Rounding off the top six teams in the 2010 women’s tennis pre-season polls is St. Joseph College who ended their previous season with an overall record of 6-12 and a GNAC record of 3-5.  St. Joseph was also ranked sixth among the final standings of 2010.   Laura D’Angelo returns this season after coming off of a 5-10 record in her freshman year.

St. Joseph kicks off their tennis season against Bay Path College on September 8, 2010 at 4:00 PM