WINTHROP, Mass. – After dominating year on the court from the top of the Simmons tennis line-up, Simmons tennis first-year Masha Shutts was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Rookie of the Year, announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
It is the second straight year the GNAC Rookie of the Year went to a Simmons student-athlete after sophomore Emilie Lapointe took home the honors last year.
 
Posting an outstanding 11-2 singles record, Shutts earned All-GNAC First Team accolades as she concluded the regular season with a nine-match win streak. The Wellesley, Massachusetts native also garnered All-GNAC First Team honors for doubles along with doubles partner sophomore Emilie Lapointe.
 
The Sharks' first doubles duo was dominant together. Shutts and Lapointe registered a 9-4 overall record, which included a perfect 3-0 mark against conference foes.
 
In addition to earning All-GNAC First Team honors at doubles, Lapointe also joined Shutts on the All-GNAC First Team for singles. At the second singles spot, Lapointe kept pace and matched her doubles partner with an 11-2 overall mark and a 3-1 record against GNAC opponents.
 
Sophomore Grace Burke rounded out the Sharks being named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Burke posted an 8-4 record with a 3-1 conference mark in the fall from the bottom of the Simmons lineup.
 
Head Coach Bob Rauseo was voted as the GNAC Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career at Simmons and first since 2015.
 
Major Awards

Player of the Year- Payton Dugan, Colby-Sawyer
Rookie of the Year- Masha Shutts, Simmons
Coach of the Year- Bob Rauseo, Simmons
Institutional Sportsmanship - Albertus Magnus
 
All-Conf. First Team (Singles)
Juju Oliver, Albertus Magnus
Payton Dugan, Colby-Sawyer
Emilie Lapointe, Simmons
Masha Shutts, Simmons
Maddie Rossetti, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Olivia Santoro, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
 
All-Conf. First Team (Doubles)
Emilie Lapointe, Masha Shutts - Simmons
 
All-Sportsmanship Team
Juju Oliver, Albertus Magnus
Avery Nielsen, Colby-Sawyer
Shyann Texiera, Regis
Grace Burke, Simmons
Liliana Garcia, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)