BOSTON, Mass. – The Simmons Tennis team defeated the Johnson & Wales University Wildcats 5-0 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference semifinals on a breezy Saturday afternoon. The Sharks will host the GNAC Championship match tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. vs. the winner of Emerson College and Emmanuel College.

The Sharks started the match strong in doubles play with freshman Nicole Eskenazi (Goleta, Calif.) pairing with classmate Kristi Mielbye (Hanson, Mass.) to defeat Joanna Kaskiw and Tammy Saunders 8-0.

Sophomore Andree Sime (Bradenton, Fla.) and junior Sabrina Salmela (Beverly, Mass.) were victorious over Ansley Sego and Samantha Jo Borr 8-2 to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead.

The #1 doubles match was grueling with Allison Bodek (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Margaret Teague (Manchester, N.H.) defeating Andrea Sultan-Campbell and Liz Sammelbraun 8-4.

With a 3-0 lead, the Sharks only needed two singles matches for victory. Sime defeated Dana Trimborn 6-0, 6-1 at #4 singles and Eskenazi defeated Darcy Predieri 6-2, 6-0 at #5 singles to complete the match. The remaining singles matches were unfinished as Simmons had enough points to advance.

With the win, the Sharks return to the GNAC Finals to defend their 2010 Championship win. The win also marks an 11-0 win-streak for the Sharks, a program best. The Wildcats finish their season 9-7 overall and 5-4 in conference play.