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#1 Colby-Sawyer and #2 USJ advance to meet in GNAC Title Match

Oct 14, 2024

WINTHROP, MASS. - The No. 1 seed Colby-Sawyer Chargers and No. 2 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) Blue Jays will square off against each other in the 2024 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship match next week on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Colby-Sawyer, time to be determined.

The top-seeded Chargers defended their home court advantage this afternoon on their Senior Day as they defeated No. 4 seed Albertus Magnus, 5-0, while the two-seeded Blue Jays got the best of Simmons this afternoon, winning 5-0.

The last time these two teams matched up in postseason play was in last year's semi-finals when Colby-Sawyer defeated the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 6-1, before going on to three-peat in the title match against Regis. 

The Chargers also got the best of the Blue Jays in their final regular season match-up to determine the top seed as Colby-Sawyer defeated USJ, 8-1, to secure that top spot on Oct. 5. 

The winner of next week's championship match earns the title of 2024 GNAC Women's Tennis Champion. The GNAC Champion will earn the conference's automatic qualifier into the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship in the spring.

#1 Colby-Sawyer (5), #4 Albertus Magnus (0)

Recap courtesy of the Colby-Sawyer Athletic Communications Department.

NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Chargers women's tennis team beat Albertus Magnus College on Saturday 5-0 to advance to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship match.

Rapid Recap: 

  • The Chargers swept the doubles, taking a 3-0 lead over the Falcons. Graduate student Mary Thoms (Northwood, N.H) and senior Mei Genest (Keene, N.H.) picked up a convincing 8-0 win at number three doubles to get the Chargers on the board. Senior Isa Gutierrez (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) and sophomore Maria Espinosa Lopez (Merida, Mexico) also chipped in an 8-1 win at number two doubles.
  • Gutierrez picked up the fourth win for the Chargers at number four singles winning 6-0, 6-0. Senior Elise Hogan (Duxbury, Mass.) solidified the Chargers 5-0 victory, picking up a 6-0, 6-0 win at number three singles.

 

#2 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (5), #3 Simmons (0)

Recap courtesy of the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) Athletic Communications Department

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's tennis team advanced to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship Match for the first time since 1999, defeating Simmons University (Simmons), 5-0, Saturday afternoon during the GNAC Semfinals at the Elizabeth Ferry Speer Tennis Complex in West Hartford, Conn.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Blue Jays opened the match strongly at No. 2 doubles, as the duo of freshman Shelly Sirisavath (East Hartford, Conn.) and junior Liliana Garcia (Wethersfield, Conn.) defeated Amoli Vad and Julia Perconti, 8-1, to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
  • USJ increased the edge to 2-0 after No. 3 doubles, as the pair of graduate student Kate Hardy (Southington, Conn.) and sophomore Nina Gardella (Lebanon, Conn.) bested Simmons' pair of Emily Lopez and Emma Parsons, 8-3.
  • The duo of graduate student Olivia Santoro (Cheshire, Conn.) and freshman Maddie Rossetti (Hamden, Conn.) secured the doubles sweep at No. 1 doubles, taking down Masha Shutts and Emilie Lapointe to send the Blue Jays into the singles portion of the match with a 3-0 edge.
  • Sirisavath made quick work of Vad at No. 3 singles, winning in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, to pull the Blue Jays within one point of match victory, 4-0.
  • The Blue Jays secured the match at No. 4 singles, as Garcia bested Perconti, 6-1, 6-1, winning the match for USJ, 5-0, and sending the Blue Jays into the GNAC Championship.

2024 GNAC Women's Tennis Tournament Schedule

Semifinals – Saturday, Oct. 12
(Hosted by higher seeds)

#1 Colby-Sawyer def. #4 Albertus Magnus, 5-0
#2 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) def. #3 Simmons, 5-0

Championship – Saturday, Oct. 19

#1 Colby-Sawyer vs #2 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), Noon

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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