WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College women's tennis player Mary Matthews (Wakefield, R.I.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the week of September 8-14, it was announced by the league today. The honor marks the second time in as many weeks that the Sharks have had a player named the league's top rookie of the week. First year Han DK Le (Vietnam) received the award last week for Simmons. 

The first year registered a perfect 2-0 combined record for the week, winning her only singles and doubles match, respectively. The rookie combined with sophomore Ashley Pierce (Carver, Mass.) to come back from a 6-4 deficit at number three doubles to win the next four games and take the match, 8-6, in a 9-0 dual match victory over University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on September 13. The South Kingstown High School product dropped just three games in a straight set singles win at number six as well, 6-2, 6-1. 

Matthews owns a combined mark of 3-0 on the season, including 2-0 at sixth singles. She has lost just three games total in singles play. 

The Sharks are currently 4-2 on the season, including 1-0 in GNAC play after being selected first in the GNAC Pre-Season Coaches Poll. The team will be in action again on Wednesday, September 17 when it heads to Cambridge, Mass. to take on Suffolk University at Buckingham, Browne and Nichols for a 5:30 p.m. match.