SAN ANTONIO -- Sam Houston State will be the number two seed at the
Southland Conference women's tennis tournament when the event begins Friday after at the Texas-San Antonio Tennis Center.

With a 9-2 record in Southland Conference regular season action, the
Bearkats were runners-up to undefeated league champion Southeastern Louisiana. The second place finish and number two seed are the highest for Sam Houston in women's tennis in the University's 20 years in the Southland.

Both the No. 1 seeded Lions and the No. 2 Bearkats receive first round byes Friday. No. 3 seeded Texas-Arlington meets No. 6 UTSA at 9:30 a.m. while No. 4 Texas State-San Marcos takes on No. 5 Lamar at 11:30 a.m.

Sam Houston State will play the winner of the UTA vs. UTSA match in the semi-finals at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 21. Southeastern Louisiana meets the Bobcat-Cardinal matchup at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

The tournament finals will be held Sunday, April 22, at 11:30 a.m. The
winner of the Southland tournament receives the league's automatic berth in the 64-team NCAA women's tennis national tournament.

Southeastern Louisiana has won the last two Southland tournament titles. The Lions defeated Sam Houston State in the semi-finals last year. The Bearkats have reached the semifinals each of the past two years.