BOSTON – Seeking its fifth NCAA berth in six years, the top-seeded Boston University women's tennis team will open the Patriot League tournament against No. 8 Lafayette on Friday morning with action slated to begin at 8:30 a.m. in Pennsylvania.

Due to inclement weather, competition will move indoors on Friday to the Central Pa. Tennis Center in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. If the weather cooperates over the weekend, the tournament will return to Bucknell's Varsity Tennis Center.

The Terriers enter the event at 12-8 with a perfect 6-0 mark against Patriot League competition. They opened the dual season with a 6-1 win over No. 6 Lehigh and later earned 7-0 sweeps against the Leopards, No. 5 Loyola Maryland and No. 9 Holy Cross . BU pulled out a 4-3 win at No. 2 Navy back on April 6 and ended the regular season on April 14 with a hard-fought 7-0 win against defending PL champion Army with four of the singles matches requiring a third set.

Last year, BU was the No. 3 seed and came up just short to the No. 2 Black Knights, 4-3, after dropping a crucial doubles point. The Terriers have captured two titles apiece as the No. 1 and 2 seeds by posting a perfect 12-0 record. In 2017 as the No. 2 seed, the posted a 4-2 win over No. 3 Navy and then claimed a 4-1 victory against the top-seed Black Knights.

The Terriers will open against the Leopards in a PL tournament for the first time since claiming a 5-0 win in the 2014 quarterfinals. Coincidentally, that tournament was also hosted by Bucknell, who enters this year's edition as the No. 4 seed.

BU has a mix of experience and youth on this year's squad. Senior Remi Ramos owns over 100 career singles and doubles wins to help lead the Terriers. She is one of six with double-digit singles victories this season. Three-time PL Player of the Week and freshman Shelly Yaloz posted a 10-4 mark during the dual season, while sophomore Lily Burchell (13), sophomore Emily Kim (10) and sophomore Katya Martens (10) all reached double figures. Senior and 2016 PL Tournament MVP Sabrina Faybyshev bounced back from last year's injury-plagued season to earn nine wins in dual play.

In doubles action, head coach Lesley Sheehan has primarily relied on two pairs. Burchell and Ramos have teamed for a 10-3 record to lead the Terriers, while Kim and Yaloz have earned 11 wins. Faybyshev has combined for seven wins with multiple teammates. 

The winner of Friday's match will face either No. 4 Bucknell or No. 5 Loyola on Saturday in the semifinals at 10 a.m. The last two remaining teams will face off for the automatic NCAA berth Sunday at 12 p.m.

2019 Patriot League Women's Tennis Tournament Schedule
Thursday, April 25 – First Round
No. 8 Lafayette def. No. 9 Holy Cross, 4-0

Friday, April 26 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 Boston University vs. No. 8 Lafayette, 8:30 a.m.
No. 4 Bucknell vs. No. 5 Loyola Maryland, 11 a.m.
No. 3 Army West Point vs. No. 6 Lehigh, 1:30 p.m.
No. 2 Navy vs. No. 7 Colgate, 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 27 – Semifinals 
No. 1/8/9 vs. No. 4/5, 10:00 a.m.
No. 3/6 vs. No. 2/7, 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 28 – Championship
Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner, 12:00 p.m.