FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of JWU Athletics Communications

WINCHESTER, Mass. – Facing just its second deficit after doubles this season, the Johnson & Wales University women's tennis team had to rally in singles in order to claim its second GNAC Championship in a row. The Wildcats won the first four singles matches to defeat Simmons, 5-2, at the Winchester Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.

Johnson & Wales finishes the fall season with a 15-1 record. Simmons, which made its 14th straight appearance in the GNAC Final, dropped to 11-6. JWU receives the GNAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament, which is held in May.

The Wildcats got the first point of the day when Nina Cohen (Guatemala City, Guatemala) and Delaney Macchirole (Greenport, N.Y.) won 8-3 at number one doubles. The Sharks won at number two and three for a 2-1 lead after doubles.

Cohen, who was named the tournament MVP, tied the match when she picked up a 6-0, 6-0 win at number one singles over Jessica Schroedl. Macchirole put the Wildcats ahead when she beat Michelle Medici, 6-0, 6-4 at number four.

Madison Hernandez (Phoenix, Ariz.) won a first-set tiebreaker then went on to beat Celia Speth, 7-6 (4), 6-2 at number five. Wrapping up the championship was Holly Olson (Mukwonago, Wisc.) as she rebounded from a first-set loss to win at number six 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 against Paola Rios.

Singles competition
1. Nina Cohen (JWU) def. Jessica Schroedl (SIM) 6-0, 6-0
2. Taylor Klein (JWU) def. Nickie Nguyen (SIM) 6-1, 3-6 2-1 Unfinished
3. Lauren Torre (JWU) def. Marissa Johnson (SIM) 6-1, 6-7 (5), 0-0 Unfinished
4. Delaney Macchirole (JWU) def. Michelle Medici (SIM) 6-0, 6-4
5. Madison Hernandez (JWU) def. Celia Speth (SIM) 7-6 (4), 6-2
6. Holly Olson (JWU) def. Paola Rios (SIM) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 

Doubles competition
1. Nina Cohen/Delaney Macchirole (JWU) def. Jessica Schroedl/Olivia Lakes (SIM) 8-3
2. Nickie Nguyen/Marissa Johnson (SIM) def. Madison Hernandez/Holly Olson (JWU) 8-4
3. Paola Rios/Celia Speth (SIM) def. Claire Parry/Thapenga Flores (JWU) 9-8 (3) 

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,5,6)

GNAC All-Tournament Team:
Nina Cohen, Johnson & Wales (MVP)
Madison Hernandez, Johnson & Wales
Holly Olson, Johnson & Wales
Marissa Johnson, Simmons
Nickie Nguyen, Simmons
Carly Donovan, Regis
Delaney Dunlap, Suffolk

WOMEN'S TENNIS: ???? from #TheGNAC Championship, including ? All-Tourney Team announced. #d3tennis pic.twitter.com/OffryZzf8b

— #TheGNAC (@TheGNAC) October 22, 2017

Wednesday, October 18 - First Round 
Match 1: #3 Simmons 5, #6 Albertus Magnus 0 | 4:30 PM @ Daly Field | BOX
Match 2:#4 Suffolk 5, #5 Saint Joseph (CT) 1 | 4:30 PM @ North Reading HS | BOX

Saturday, October 21 - Semifinals (Winchester Indoor Tennis Center)
Match 3: #1 JWU 5, #4 Suffolk 0 | BOX
Match 4:#3 Simmons 5, #2 Regis (Mass.) 1 | BOX

Sunday, October 22 - Championship (Winchester Indoor Tennis Center)
Match 5: #1 JWU 5, #3 Simmons 2 | BOX 

2017 GNAC Women's Tennis Championship

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement. 

– #TheGNAC –