INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. β The West Liberty University menβs tennis team had its ticket punched to the 2022 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament on Tuesday night.
Β Β Β Coach Ronnie Hulewiczβs Hilltoppers were installed as the regionβs No. 5 seed and will take on No. 4 seed Mercyhurst (Pa.) in an Atlantic Region semifinal on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Schoenbrun Park courts in Charleston.
Β Β Β The winner of the Mercyhurst-West Liberty match moves on to Tuesdayβs regional championship match against top-seeded and No. 19-ranked Charleston, the tournament host. Tuesdayβs winner moves on to the 16-team NCAA Division II Nationals set for later this month in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Β Β Β The Lakers and Hilltoppers each boast lengthy NCAA regional resumes but this marks a return to NCAA Tournament play for both following brief hiatuses. This will be Mercyhurstβs 11thΒ NCAA Division II Tournament appearance but its first since 2019. West Liberty is making its 9thΒ NCAA tourney trip and its first since the 2017 season.
Β Β Β The Hilltoppers were runners-up in the Mountain East Conference regular season this spring and are coming off a 4-1 loss to Charleston in last weekendβs MEC Tournament championship match. The Lakers also finished second in the PSAC during the regular season. They come into the NCAA Tournament off a hard-fought 4-3 loss to Edinboro in the finals of the PSAC Tournament.
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MENβS TENNIS
Atlantic Region I
(at Charleston, W.Va.)
Monday, May 9
Semifinal
No. 4 Mercyhurst vs.Β No. 5 WEST LIBERTY,Β 11 a.m.
Tuesday, May 10
Championship
WEST LIBERTY/Mercyhurst winner vs. No. 1 Charleston