WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College's Leyan Li (Deerfield, N.H.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Rookie of the Week for the week of January 19-25, it was announced today by the league. 

The award marks the seventh straight reporting period that the Sharks have earned the honor. First year Natalie Giraldi (Bedford, N.H.) earned the GNAC accolade for the weeks of October 27 to November 2, November 3-9, November 10-16 and December 1-7, while rookie Michaela Morris (Duxbury, Mass.) was tabbed for the weeks of December 1-7, January 5-11 and January 12-18. 

Li earned first place in the one-meter diving event in Simmons' 203-67 victory over Western New England University on January 25 with a career-high score of 158.85 points. The first year did not receive a judge's score of less than 5.0 from the three-judge panel for any of her six dives during the meet. 

Li has been the Sharks' top diver all season after picking up the event for the first time in her life this season. A graduate of Concord High School, Li has competed in six meets this season, exclusively on the one-meter board. She made her collegiate debut on December 2 at Babson College, scoring 146.20 points in six dives. An Art Administration major, Li has scored 140 or more points on three occasions this year. 

Simmons has currently won five straight dual meets and owns a 10-2 record to tie the school mark for most victories in a season. The team won the GNAC Championship for the 11th straight year on December 7. It was also their 13th crown in the last 14 years. The Sharks return to the pool on Saturday, January 31 when they host Plymouth State University at the Holmes Sports Center Natatorium for a 1:00 p.m. start.