HIGH 5 OF THE WEEK: Rodriguez ready for new start at Simmons

Rodriguez (Simmons athletics)

Waterbury native and former Taft standout Jalissa Rodriguez is already fitting in nicely at Simmons, her new Boston women’s college home.
“Being at Simmons in general just gives you a sense of woman empowerment, which I’ve never experienced fully,” Rodriguez said while being interviewed for an online segment called “Woman on Campus” about the Class of 2021. The segment was put together by Maralee Mitchell, a member of the Class of 2020.
Rodriguez is already translating that feeling into a goal she wants to accomplish before she’s done at Simmons.
“I hope to start my own nonprofit organization while still in college,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez was drawn to Simmons by head basketball coach Michael Williams.
“I was recruited by Coach Williams, and he made me feel right at home,” Rodriguez said.
While Rodriguez is ready to get going at Simmons, her heritage is on her mind, especially now with what happened during Hurricane Maria.
“I’m Puerto Rican, I tell everyone that,” Rodriguez said. “That’s just something I hold close to myself.”
Rodriguez will be busy as her freshman season of basketball begins soon.

Doubleday (Bentley athletics)

Megan Doubleday, Bentley soccer
The former Wolcott standout has had her first taste of collegiate soccer over the past three matches, and the freshman had a career milestone on Sept. 18.
Bentley lost the match 3-1, but that “1” came from Doubleday, and it was her first career goal. Doubleday had recorded a point for the second straight game, with her first coming on an assist in a 2-1 loss to Assumption on Sept. 16.
For the season, Doubleday has played in three games and has tallied three points. She is majoring in corporate finance and accounting.
Doubleday earned first team All-State, All-NVL, Team MVP and top NVL senior honors in her senior season at Wolcott High School.

Woznicki (Roger Williams athletics)

Samantha Woznicki, Roger Williams soccer
The senior tri-captain has been a leader in both words and statistics for the Hawks early this season.
Woznicki has played in 10 games and started all of them. She leads the team in goals with three and total points with eight, and she is tied for second in assists with two. 
Woznicki scored her first two goals back-to-back in a 5-0 win over UMass-Boston on Sept. 9. She tallied her third goal in a 2-2 tie against Wellesley on Sept. 19. Woznicki has two assists, one each in matches against Emmanuel on Sept. 21 and Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Sept. 25.

Serva (Anna Maria athletics)

Phil Serva, Anna Maria football
The former Holy Cross defender is off to a good start in the AMCAT linebacking corps.
Serva has 12 tackles in three games, including a career-high of seven in a loss to Curry on Sept. 15. Serva had three solo tackles and assisted on four others. 
Serva had three tackles, all solo, in a Sept. 1 loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He tallied two more solo tackles in a Sept. 8 defeat against Nichols.
Serva, a freshman and Southbury native, is majoring in business.

Fannon (AIC athletics)

Jennifer Fannon, American International cross country
The senior from Bristol Central has been one of the most consistent Yellowjacket runners so far this season.
AIC won the Panther Invitational as a team on Sept. 1 at Bethpage State Park in Bethpage, N.Y. The Yellowjackets also had the top runner in Ivy Chepyegon. Fannon was the second fastest AIC competitor and took third place overall in a time of 19:59.05.
On Sept. 16, AIC was 12th out of 40 teams at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. Chepyegon was again the fastest Yellowjacket and took fourth place. Fannon was the second quickest AIC runner and was 56th overall.
AIC head coach Leo Mayo had great things to say about Fannon after the Panther Invitational.
“The women’s team is coming together, they really worked hard over the summer,” Mayo said. “Jen Fannon, phenomenal.”

Statistics and information compiled from the team website of each athlete.