NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – For the first time in program history, Western Connecticut State University earned the right to host the Little East Women’s Tennis Championship after completing the conference schedule with an undefeated mark of 7-0. The Colonials welcome second-seeded Salem State College and the two winners from Thursday’s first round matches at the Westside Courts on Oct. 24-25.

Bridgewater State College, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Rhode Island College, and the University of Southern Maine complete the six-team tournament field in respective seeding order. The sixth-seeded Huskies travel to the third-seeded Bears on Thursday, Oct. 20, while the fourth-seeded Corsairs host the fifth-seeded Anchorwomen the same afternoon. Both first round matches are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

The two victors of first round action advance to the semifinal round to face the top-two seeds. The winner of Rhode Island College at UMass Dartmouth will square off against top-seeded Western Connecticut a 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Vikings will meet the winner of Southern Maine and Bridgewater State approximately three hours later. The two winners advance to the championship round the following afternoon at 1 p.m. The 2009 Little East women’s tennis champion will earn the automatic qualifier into the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship.

If you are unable to make the trip to Danbury, Conn. this weekend, you will be able to follow all the action on Little East Championship Central. Championship Central will feature updated brackets, complete box scores and match recaps.

2009 Little East Women's Tennis Championship Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 22 - First Round
#6 University of Southern Maine at #3 Bridgewater State College, 2 p.m.
#5 Rhode Island College at #4 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 2 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24 - Semifinal Round
#4/#5 Winner at #1 Western Connecticut State University, 12 p.m.
#3/#6 Winner vs. #2 Salem State College, 3 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25 - Championship
Semifinal Winner #2 vs. Semifinal Winner #1, 1 p.m.