WINTHROP, Mass. – First-year Emilie Lapointe was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Rookie of the Year announced by the league on Tuesday afternoon.

Posting a perfect record of 4-0 in singles against conference opponents from the top spot of the Sharks lineup, Lapointe was also named to the All-GNAC First Team. The central Massachusetts native becomes the seventh student from Simmons to earn the coveted GNAC Rookie of the Year accolades – including first player to receive the honors since Han DK Le in 2014.

Senior Sara Fucillo was named to the GNAC All-Tournament following an outstanding performance in the conference semifinals match against Regis College. Against the Pride, Fucillo partnered with junior Emily Lopez to earn the Sharks' lone victory with an 8-2 win in third doubles. Additionally, the Winthrop, Massachusetts native took the first set of fifth singles from Sophi Machado and was up 4-0 in the second set in the semifinals.

Fellow first-year Ainsley Foster rounded out the Sharks on the all-conference being named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.  

2023 GNAC WOMEN'S TENNIS ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM SINGLES

Grace Carpenter, Colby-Sawyer
Maria Espinosa Lopez, Colby-Sawyer
Liliana Garcia, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Elise Hogan, Colby-Sawyer
Emilie Lapointe, Simmons
Kiana Thompson, Regis

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM DOUBLES

Kiana Thompson & Stephanie Beatrice, Regis

MAJOR AWARDS
Player of the Year - Grace Carpenter, Colby-Sawyer
Rookie of the Year - Emilie Lapointe, Simmons
Coach of the Year - Barry Schoonmaker, Colby-Sawyer
Institutional Sportsmanship - Albertus Magnus

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Bailey Mitchell-Warren, Albertus Magnus
Taylor Bentley, Colby-Sawyer
Sophi Machado, Regis
Ainsley Foster, Simmons
Kathleen Gilland, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)