INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The West Liberty University women's tennis team is heading to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional tournament for the third consecutive season.

Coach Heather Gallagher's Lady Hilltoppers, the West Virginia Conference runners-up, will be heading to Roadman Park in California, Pa. this weekend to compete in the four-team Atlantic Region pod being hosted by top-seeded and No. 16-ranked California.

The other four-team Atlantic Region pod, which will run simultaneously, is being hosted by No. 2 seed Indiana (Pa.). The winners of each pod will join the 16-team field at the NCAA Division II national championship tournament from May 8-11 in Surprise, Ariz.

West Liberty (16-8) is the No. 5 seed in this year's regional and will take on No.  4 seed Mercyhurst (14-4) at noon on Saturday. The first match of the day features host California (14-9) going up against No. 8 seed Virginia State (19-3). Saturday's winners will meet at 10 a.m. Sunday to play for a berth in the national championship tournament.

In Saturday's first-round matches at Indiana, Pa., host IUP (17-7) will open against No. 7 seed Shaw (23-2) while WVIAC champion West Virginia State (17-8), the No. 3 seed, meets No. 6 seed Slippery Rock (12-8). Saturday's winners will play on Sunday. Match times for the IUP pod will be announced later this week.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament

Regional No. 1

(at California, Pa.)

Saturday, April 27

No. 1 California, Pa. (14-9) vs. No. 8 Virginia State (19-3), 10 a.m.

No. 4 Mercyhurst (14-4) vs. No. 5 WEST LIBERTY (16-8), Noon

Sunday, April 28

Saturday's winners, 10 a.m.

Regional No. 2

(at Indiana, Pa.)

Saturday, April 27

No. 2 Indiana, Pa. (17-7) vs. No. 7 Shaw (23-2), tba

No. 3 W.Va. State (17-8) vs. No. 6 Slippery Rock (12-8), tba

Sunday, April 28

Saturday's winners, tba