SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth will play the University of Texas-Tyler when the Pirates make their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III women's tennis tournament on Friday in the first round of a regional hosted by Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.

The Pirates (21-4) earned their first trip to the NCAA Division III tournament by winning their first Northwest Conference title since 1997. The UT-Tyler Patriots (17-8) earned their second consecutive American Southwest Conference title this weekend.

Friday's match time is still to be determined. The winner of Friday's match will take on the host Sagehens (17-4) on Saturday.

The University of Redlands (16-6) and Chapman University (10-6) will play in Saturday's other regional semifinal.