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