Women’s Tennis’ Biondi, Ruttkowski Garner All-GNAC First Team Accolades

WINTHROP, Mass.- Senior Sharon Biondi (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) and junior Emily Ruttkowski (Castrop-Rauxel, Germany) of the Eastern Nazarene College women's tennis team have been selected to the All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) singles first team for the second-consecutive year, announced the league office Tuesday. Senior Veronica Jimenez (Lynn, Mass.) was also named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Biondi posted an 11-3 record in singles action at the No. 1 position this fall. In conference play, the senior registered a 5-2 mark. She finished the fall with eight-straight singles victories. Biondi boasts a 33-10 career singles record.

Ruttkowski completed the fall slate with an undefeated 13-0 singles record with a 6-0 mark in league action at the No. 2 spot. Dating back to last spring, the junior has won her last 15 consecutive singles matches. In her three seasons at Eastern Nazarene, Ruttkowski has compiled an impressive 41-7 career record in singles play.

The Lions captured their first-ever GNAC championship in 2019 and finished the fall with a 12-2 overall record to go with a 6-1 league mark. In the GNAC title match, Biondi notched a crucial three-set victory to tie the match at 4-4 before Ruttkowski triumphed in three sets to clinch the crown.

Ruttkowski was named the GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player while Biondi and Jimenez received All-Tournament team accolades.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene will return to the courts in the spring to prepare for the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in May.