WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Simmons University women's tennis team boasted three double-winners in a 6-3 victory over host University of Saint Joseph in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match today at the USJ Tennis Courts in West Hartford, Conn. The Sharks improve to 3-8 overall and 1-4 in league play, while the Blue Jays fall to 1-6 and 0-5.

Seniors Paola Rios (Miami, Fla.) and Michelle Medici (South Portland, Maine) joined first year Sarah Mariski (Portland, Maine) with a pair of wins on the day to lead Simmons. Rios paired with Medici to earn an 8-1 win at second doubles over the Saint Joseph duo of junior Domonique Carnot (Meriden, Conn.) and senior Leah Nguyen (West Hartford, Conn.). Rios dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 victory at number three singles over USJ senior Ashley Savino (Old Saybrook, Conn.) and Medici cruised at fourth singles with a 6-1, 6-1 effort over Carnot. Mariski ended the afternoon for the Sharks with a hard-fought win at fifth singles after recovering from a 6-0 first set loss to first year Carolyn Callahan (Southington, Conn.), the rookie came back to win the final two frames, 6-4, 6-4 to set the final at 6-3 for Simmons. Mariski also teamed with first year Megan McKeever (Stamford, Conn.) for a gritty 9-7 decision at number three doubles over Callahan and sophomore Jessica McAllister (Bristol, Conn.).

Junior Marissa Johnson (Norwell, Mass.) locked up the win for the Sharks with the deciding point in a duel with Nguyen at second singles. Nguyen breezed through the opening set, 6-1, but Johnson bounced back and surrendered just four games the rest of the match, taking the middle set, 6-1, before winning the match with a 6-3 showing in the third frame. 

Senior Lucy Roberge (Willington, Conn.) was a double-winner to lead Saint Joseph, winning at first singles over Simmons junior Nickie Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam/Saint Joseph Preparatory (Mass.)), 6-4, 6-4. Roberge also won in doubles play, earlier in the afternoon for USJ, combining with Savino on an 8-3 victory at number one over Nguyen and Johnson. McAllister also picked up a win for the Blue Jays with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph at sixth singles over sophomore Carrie St. Peter (Chester, N.H.).

The Sharks return to action on Wednesday, October 10 when they head back to the nutmeg state to take on GNAC foe Albertus Magnus College at 3:30 p.m, in New Haven, while Saint Joseph heads to Danbury, Conn. on October 8 to play Western Connecticut State University at 3:30 p.m.