WINTHROP, Mass. – Simmons College women's tennis player Katie Crowley (Reading, Mass.) was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week, it was announced today by the league. It's the second straight week that Crowley has been tabbed. The Sharks have had a player selected as the weekly top player five times this season. Junior Meg Cokely (Haverhill, Mass.) was the recipient for the weeks of September 1-7 and September 15-21, while sophomore Theresa Reinhard (Canton, Ohio) got the nod for the week of September 8-14.
Crowley put together a combined record of 4-0 during Simmons' championship run over the weekend to capture the program's seventh straight GNAC title and 10th in the last 11 seasons. The junior won both of her singles matches in straight sets and set the tone for the Sharks when she paired with first year Han DK Le (Tra Vinh, Vietnam/Matignon HS (Mass.) to win at number three doubles vs. Anna Maria College, 8-0, in the conference tournament semifinals. She won at third singles as well, 6-0, 6-1, to give Simmons the fifth point of the match to clinch the win and advance to the title contest. Crowley partnered with Le again for an 8-6 triumph over second-seeded Johnson & Wales University at third doubles, before winning at fourth singles, 6-3, 6-1, to earn the fifth point for the second straight day to deliver the Sharks the league crown. The Physical Therapy major was named the GNAC Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player for her efforts.
The Reading High School product has enjoyed a breakout year, compiling a team-high 27 combined wins, including a 14-4 doubles record to top the team in doubles victories as well. She also owns a 13-4 singles mark and all but two of her victories have come in straight sets. Crowley has won seven straight singles matches and nine doubles contests in a row. The junior has played as high as number two singles in the lineup and has put together a 5-0 record within second, third and fourth singles, while posting a 10-2 mark in dual match doubles play. She combined with Le to win the 'D' Draw crown of the New England Women's Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament from October 17-19.
Crowley has registered a career combined mark of 51-25, including 30-15 in singles play and 21-10 in doubles action.
Simmons earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, but will be in action again in the Spring when it takes on Brandeis University in dual match play on Saturday, April 11 at 1:00 p.m.