Tennis 2009 Season Preview

Simmons Tennis is poised to begin the 2009 season after a successful 2008 campaign. The Sharks finished 2008 with a 12-6 overall record, and a 9-0 run against Great Northeast Athletic Conference opponents. Simmons captured the 2008 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship for the fourth time in five years, and in doing so qualified for the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The team, led by Head Coach Bob Rauseo, the 2008 GNAC Women?s Tennis Coach of the Year, finished the season ranked 25th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) in the New England region, tying a program high set in 2007. Simmons Tennis wrapped up the fall 2009 season after capturing the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament Championship for the fifth time in six years, and securing a #24 ranking among Northeast Division III programs from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association?the highest ever ITA ranking for Simmons. The Sharks turned in a perfect 8-0 regular season GNAC performance, amounting to a 68-4 record in individual conference matches. Simmons Tennis has been ranked 26th among NCAA Division III programs in the Northeast by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The Sharks were ranked ahead of William Smith, and just behind Babson, Smith and Mount Holyoke.
Posted: Aug 24, 2009

Simmons Tennis is poised to begin the 2009 season after a successful 2008 campaign. The Sharks finished 2008 with a 12-6 overall record, and a 9-0 run against Great Northeast Athletic Conference opponents. Simmons captured the 2008 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship for the fourth time in five years, and in doing so qualified for the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The team, led by Head Coach Bob Rauseo, the 2008 GNAC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year, finished the season ranked 25th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) in the New England region, tying a program high set in 2007.

Rauseo and the Sharks will set their sights on again making it to the GNAC Tournament and winning the top spot in the conference, as well as remaining a ranked team in the ITA's toughest region.

Leading the way among a talented group of athletes are junior Maile Macleod (Carlsbad, Calif.) and sophomore Maggie Taylor (Yarmouth, Maine). Macleod became a force for the Sharks in 2008, playing #1 doubles and #2 singles, and named a GNAC Second Team All-Conference pick. Taylor, also a GNAC Second Team All-Conference pick, led a group of competitive freshmen last season, and fought her way to an undefeated 5-0 GNAC record in both singles and doubles play. Junior Katy Hallinan (Lakeville, Mass.), a GNAC First Team All-Conference pick in 2008, will also return to add her experience to the roster.

The Sharks lost #1 singles player Stacey Kohan, also a captain, to graduation in spring 2009. "She was a perfect example of working as hard as possible to improve," said Rauseo. "Hopefully, that example will be remembered by her teammates."

Despite Kohan's graduation, Rauseo is left with an experienced team with a lot of depth, which will help the Sharks as they pursue another successful season. "If we stay healthy, we'll be very competitive," said Rauseo. "I think we have a chance to be as solid as we were last year when we had a great run to the NCAA."

The Sharks will open the 2009 season when they travel to Clark University on Thursday, September 3 for a 5:00pm match.

Scoreboard
  • Sat, 04/27 Women's Tennis vs. Lesley W, 7-2 (Final) RC | R
  • Wed, 04/24 Women's Tennis vs. Emerson L, 6-0 (Final) RC | R
  • Fri, 04/19 Women's Tennis vs. Husson L, 6-3 (Final) RC | R
  • Fri, 04/12 Women's Tennis vs. Bentley (Postponed)
  • Sat, 10/14 Women's Tennis vs. Regis (Mass.) L, 5-1 (Final) RC | R | PR