WINTHROP, Mass. – After an outstanding year on the playing fields, Simmons University recorded its highest finish since the 2017-2018 academic year in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Commissioner's Cup standings announced on Friday.

Softball's first conference crown along with a trio of runner-up finishes from volleyball, field hockey and swimming and diving, helped the Sharks claim 26 of a possible 40 points for 65%. In the fall, the field hockey program posted a program-best 16-3 overall mark, which included 13 shutouts – second most amongst all Division III programs. The GNAC Offensive Player of the Year, sophomore Sydney Gonyea guided the Sharks back to the conference title game for the first time in six years.

On the hard-court, the volleyball program advanced to their first GNAC championship game with an epic come-from-behind victory over the top seeded Rivier University. Headlined by junior Claire Conners, a trio of Sharks earned All-Regional accolades.

During the winter the months, the Simmons swimming and diving program collected a total of 12 event titles at the GNAC Championship Meet in earlier February. Senior Meg Driscoll led the way with three gold medals in the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard IM. First-year swimmer Carli Quinlan was tabbed as the GNAC Rookie of the Year after earning three medals, including a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle, at the championship meet.

The GNAC Commissioner's Cup annually recognizes the member institution achieving the highest level of athletic success throughout the academic year. It is based upon a point system and standings are determined by percentages in order to reflect the number of GNAC sports that each member institution sponsors.

Schools receive five points for winning a GNAC Championship, four points for advancing to a conference title game, three points for competing in the semifinals two points for qualifying for the post-season, or one point for sponsoring the sport.

Simmons had won the Commissioner's Cup three straight years from 2011 through 2014.

2022-23 GNAC COMMISSIONER'S CUP WOMEN'S TEAM FINAL STANDINGS
1. Johnson & Wales – 24/30 (80%)
2. SIMMONS – 26/40 (65%)
3. Emmanuel – 24/40 (60%)
4. Colby-Sawyer – 26/50 (52.%)
5. Regis – 28/55 (50.9%)
6. Saint Joseph's College of Maine – 25/50 (50%)
7. Lasell – 22/45 (48.9%)
8. Norwich – 14/35 (40%)
9. Rivier – 14/35 (40%)
10. Albertus Magnus – 15/40 (37.5%)
11. St. Joseph's (Conn.) – 16/45 (35.6%)
12. Elms – 11/40 (27.5%)
13. Dean – 9/35 (25.7%)
14. Anna Maria – 7/30 (23.3%)