FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINTHROP, Mass. – Johnson & Wales University (RI) and first-year league member Regis (Mass.) have earned the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in this week's 2017 GNAC Women's Tennis Tournament. As a result, both programs receive a first-round bye into Saturday's semifinals at the Winchester Indoor Tennis Center in Winchester, Mass.

By winning its regular-season finale over Suffolk University this past weekend, Simmons College will be the No. 3 seed in the tournament, while Suffolk will be the No. 4 seed. In Wednesday's first-round action, Simmons will host sixth-seeded Albertus Magnus College at 4:30 PM at Daly Field, while Suffolk welcomes fifth-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at North Reading High School, also at 4:30 PM.

The winners will advance to the neutral-site final-four portion of the tournament in Winchester. JWU will host the USJ/Suffolk winner at 2:00 PM before Regis hosts the Albertus/Simmons winner at 4:30 PM. Sunday afternoon's GNAC Championship contest is slated for 12:30 PM in Winchester. The GNAC champion will receive an automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division III Tournament next spring. 

Wednesday, October 18 - First Round
Match 1: #6 Albertus Magnus at #3 Simmons - 4:30 PM @ Daly Field
Match 2: #5 Saint Joseph (CT) at #4 Suffolk - 4:30 PM @ North Reading HS

Saturday, October 21 - Semifinals (Winchester Indoor Tennis Center)
Match 3: #4/5 winner vs. #1 JWU - 2PM
Match 4: #3/6 winner vs. #2 Regis (Mass.) - 4:30PM

Sunday, October 22 - Championship (Winchester Indoor Tennis Center)
Match 5: Match 3 winner vs Match 4 winner - 12:30 PM 

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement. 

– #TheGNAC –