SKILLMAN, N.Y.  – The West Liberty University women's tennis team earned its share of the regional and national spotlight when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its NCAA Division II rankings for the fall semester.

Coach Heather Gallagher's Hilltopper netters slotted in at No. 4 in the Atlantic Region rankings and also popped up at No. 42 in the ITA's national Top 50.

In addition, two West Liberty standouts were listed among the top singles and doubles performers in the region.

Three-time first-team All-West Virginia Conference pick Raissa Wischi and reigning West Virginia Conference Player of the Year Lauren Howard were rated as the No. 3 doubles tandem in the Atlantic Region.

Wischi was ranked No. 9 among Atlantic Region singles players with Howard rated at No. 12.

The Hilltoppers' regional and national recognition was fueled by another strong performance in the WVIAC's fall season. West Liberty powered its way to the WVIAC championship match for the second consecutive year and finished with a dazzling 13-2 record. The Hilltoppers' only losses came against W.Va. State's undefeated WVIAC title team.

Defending Atlantic Region champion California (Pa.) is ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Region and No. 8 nationally. Indiana (Pa.) is No. 2 in the region, with West Virginia State, West Liberty and Slippery Rock (Pa.) rounding out the top five.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

2012-13 ITA Fall Semester Rankings

National Top 10 Teams

  1 Armstrong Atlantic (GA)

  2 BYU-Hawaii

  3 Abilene Christian (TX)

  4 Lynn (FL)

  5 Barry (FL)

  6 Hawaii Pacific

  7 Columbus State (GA)

  8 California (PA)

  9 West Florida

10 Francis Marion (SC)

Atlantic Region Teams

31 Indiana (PA)

37 W.Va. State

42 WEST LIBERTY

Atlantic Region Top 10 Teams

  1 California (PA)

  2 Indiana (PA)

  3 W.Va. State

  4 WEST LIBERTY

  5 Slippery Rock (PA)

  6 Charleston

  7 Winston-Salem State (NC)

  8 Shaw (NC)

  9 Mercyhurst (PA)

10 Edinboro (PA)

Atlantic Region Top 15 Singles

  1 Alexandra Borgenhoff , California (PA)

  2 Lucie Sipkova, California (PA)

  3 Lucie Rey, California (PA)

  4 Jade Pondicas, California (PA)

  5 Caroline Bristol, Mercyhurst (PA)

  6 Tanya Timko, Indiana (PA)

  7 Brittany Franco, W.Va. State

  8 Ramona Czakon, California (PA)

  9 RAISSA WISCHI, WEST LIBERTY

10 Andrea Slursarcuic, W.Va. State

11 Katie Eaton, Indiana (PA)

12 LAUREN HOWARD, WEST LIBERTY

13 Kasey Love, Slippery Rock (PA)

14 Laura Smith, Charleston

15 Kayla Carter, Winston-Salem State (PA)

Atlantic Region Top 5 Doubles

1 Lucie Rey/ Lucie Sipkova, California (PA)

2 Jade Pondicas/Ramona Czakon, California (PA)

3 LAUREN HOWARD/RAISSA WISCHI, WEST LIBERTY

4 Kelsey Hensley/Laura Smith. Charleston

5 Tanya Timko/Emilia Osborne, Indiana (PA)