Women's Tennis | 5/2/2011 5:18:40 PM

MONROEVILLE, Pa. – Nationally-ranked California (Pa.) proved to be rude hosts Monday morning as the West Liberty University women's tennis team dropped a 6-0 decision to the No. 13 Vulcans in an NCAA Division II Atlantic Region semifinal at The Club Sport and Fitness.

    California, the region's top seed and five-time defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion, got off to a fast start with a sweep of the three doubles matches by identical 8-1 scores to take a 3-0 lead into singles play.

    The Vulcans closed out the match with straight-set wins at Nos. 1, 4 and 5 singles. NCAA Tournament matches are halted once a team has won enough individual matches to clinch the outcome.

    California improved to 20-7 with the victory while Coach Heather Gallagher's Hilltoppers, playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 2007, wrapped up the year with a 9-10 record.

    The Vulcans and PSAC rival Mercyhurst will play for the regional title Tuesday at 10 a.m. Mercyhurst eliminated the University of Charleston, 5-3, in Monday's other regional semifinal.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional

(at Monroeville, Pa.)

No. 13 California (Pa.) 6, West Liberty 0

Doubles

Annabel Pieschl/Jade Pondicas (Cal) d. Marina Quintana/Emma Windsor (WLU) 8-1

Axelle Fernandez/Anastassiya Zherdeva (Cal) d. Kayla Saunders/Moleigh Poling (WLU) 8-1

Laurie Navarro/Franziska Steinhardt (Cal) d. Raissa Wischi/Sarah Howells (WLU) 8-1

Singles

Annabel Pieschl (Cal) d. Raissa Wischi (WLU) 6-0, 6-0

Jade Pondicas (Cal) vs. Marina Quintana (WLU) DNF

Franziska Steinhardt (Cal) vs. Emma Windsor (WLU) DNF

Anastassiya Zherdeva (Cal) d. Kayla Saunders (WLU) 6-0, 6-0

Axelle Fernandez (Cal) d. Moleigh Poling (WLU) 6-0, 6-0

Laurie Navarro (Cal) vs. Sarah Howells (WLU) DNF