PORTLAND, Maine – Simmons University Tennis took on the Husson University Eagles today at the Apex Tennis Center for the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship. The Sharks continued to make a splash with their first year in a new conference as Simmons defeated the Husson Eagles, 5-2.
How It Happened
- In doubles play, the No. 2 combination of Emma Parsons and Emilie Lapointe made swift work of their Eagles opponents to secure the clean 6-0 win. The Eagles locked the score up after coming away with the win on the No. 3 court. Then, with all eyes on the battle in No. 1 action, Masha Shutts and Amoli Vad rose to the occasion to claim the overall doubles point thanks to their 6-4 win.
- Vad was the first to be done in singles as the sophomore cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win. Then, Lapointe earned a 6-2, 6-0 victory in No. 4 action to give the Sharks the 3-0 advantage. Husson fought back to handle No. 6 singles (3-1). However, a Shutts' victory in the No. 1 slot (6-2, 6-2) sealed the deal for Simmons. Playing to completion, Husson grabbed another win before Laura Lowe put on a gutsy performance to give an extra point to the Sharks (6-1, 1-6, 7-5).
With today's win over Husson, Simmons earns the NAC women's tennis automatic qualifier (AQ) to the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship Tournament to be played in the spring of 2026. The tournament field will be announced on May 4, 2026, and play will begin on May 8, 2026 at a site to be determined. Simmons will return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015 when they competed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).
Shutts was named 2025 NAC Women's Tennis Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP). She is the first of seven student-athletes to be named to the All-Tournament Team. The full list of All-Tournament Team honorees will be announced the week of October 13, 2025.
Additionally, this marks the Sharks' 11 conference title in the Head Coach
Bob Rauseo era.
