BOSTON, Mass. - The Simmons College women's tennis team returns four of its top six singles players from a year ago, including its top two players and was picked to repeat as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference champion in the Pre-Season Coaches Poll.

The Sharks set a school record for victories in 2014-15 and won a first round match in the NCAA Tournament and will look to return to the national tourney for the eighth straight season.

Simmons is led by junior Theresa Reinhard (Canton, Ohio), who is one of two returning All-Conference honorees from last year. She earned First Team accolades for singles play and Second Team honors for doubles action. She posted a combined record for 24-20, including 14-8 in doubles play in 2014-15. The first singles competitor played a full circuit during the summer and looks to have an even better year as a junior. Senior Meg Cokely (Haverhill, Mass.) enjoyed a tremendous season at second singles last year, posting an 18-5 record in singles, while owning an overall 30-14 record. She also earned First Team All-Conference honors for singles and was a Second Teamer for doubles. The Co-Captain, along with Reinhard, is on the cusp of becoming the Sharks' career leader in combined, singles and doubles victories.

Senior Rachael Downey (Groveland, Mass.) will play in the middle of the Simmons singles and doubles lineup after recording a 22-21 combined mark, including 15-9 in doubles action. The four-year player owns a great first serve and backhand and has improved her volleys in doubles play after posting a perfect 5-0 mark vs. GNAC foes last year. Classmate Katie Crowley (Reading, Mass.) put together the best season of her career last year with a 33-13 combined record to top the squad. She excelled in both singles and doubles play with, respective records of 16-6 and 17-7. She will move up in the singles lineup in her final collegiate campaign, where her consistency and ability to maximize her play will be counted on for the team's success.

Sophomore Mary Matthews (Wakefield, R.I.) dropped just one match last year, while compiling a combined 9-1 mark, including a perfect 7-0 singles record. The athletic left-hander, who earned GNAC Rookie of the Week honors last year, will compete in the doubles lineup for the Sharks this year, while looking for time in the regular singles lineup as well. Ashley Pierce (Carver, Mass.) will look for time at the bottom of the team's singles and doubles lineup. She's a good defensive player and gets to a lot of balls. The junior posted a 6-3 mark last year and was undefeated against conference opponents. Sophomore Lilli Blumkin (Del Mar, Calif.) is also a good defensive player, who will look for time in singles play. The second-year player was a perfect 3-0 last year, including 2-0 at singles. Classmate Winnie Yee (South San Francisco, Calif.) has great foot speed and is very quick. The sophomore won her only singles and doubles match last year and did not drop a game in either contest. She will also look for time in the singles lineup.

First year Ashley Chen (Hilo, Hawaii) comes to Boston with a good serve and great foot speed. She gets to a lot of balls and should crack the Simmons starting singles lineup, while also starting in doubles action as one of the best rookies in the league. Fellow newcomer Laura Plaza (Mexico City, Mexico) is a good ground stroker with a great first serve and will look for time in singles play. She played her high school tennis in Texas and has a formidable forehand as well.