CALIFORNIA, Pa. - The Shaw women's tennis team defeated West Virginia State 5-1 to advance to the NCAA Regional Finals in matches played at Roadman Park on the campus of California (PA).   The win is the Lady Bears' first in NCAA play.

The fourth seeded Lady Bears, who improve to 26-1 on the season, got solid play from their four, five, and siz singles players to cement the win in the best-of-nine format competition.  The fifth seeded Yellow Jackets conclude their season with a 15-10 mark.

Shaw got solid play from its lower doubles and singles players to capture the win. 

The first matches reported - the number two and three doubles - were wins for Shaw with the number two doubles team of Vimbai Mawisire and Aline Ferreira defeating Andreea Slusarcuis and Jordan Kerns 8-1 while number three doubles Claudia Silva and Gislaine Farias reported an identical 8-1 score against Jana Jones and Clara McAdams.

After dropping the match at the number one doubles 8-5, Shaw entered singles play with a 2-1 lead.  Number five singles Ferreira reported her win over McAdams 6-0. 6-0 followed shortly by Farias' win over Jones 6-1-6-2.

Number four singles Mawisire then defeated Kerns 6-3, 6-1 for the game-clenching fifth win.

The Lady Bears now await the winner of the match between top seeded California (PA) and eighth seeded Winston-Salem State.  The winner of that game, to be played at Roadman Park in California, Pa., will advance to the NCAA National Women's Tennis Tournament to be held in Louisville, Ky., May 16-19.