AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta State women’s tennis squad earned the No. 6 seed for this weekend’s Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

The Lady Jags, who learned of their fate when the PBC office released the tourney bracket following the final regular-season match on Wednesday, will face tourney host and No. 3 seed Clayton State on Friday, April 16 at 2:00 p.m.

Armstrong Atlantic State will begin its quest for a seventh consecutive PBC Tournament title as the league’s top seed. The tournament begins on Friday, April 16, at the Clayton County Tennis Center in Jonesboro, Ga.

The Lady Pirates won their seventh straight PBC regular-season championship in 2010 after going undefeated in PBC play. The No. 1-ranked team in the nation, AASU was 12-0 in the league, 24-0 overall and hasn’t not lost a regular-season or PBC Tournament match to a conference opponent since 2004. The two-time defending national champions will face eighth-seeded Lander in the first round.

Columbus State will be the No. 2 seed. Ranked fifth in the nation, the Lady Cougars were 11-1 in conference play and 17-4 overall. The Lady Cougars have won nine of their last 11 matches heading into the tournament. CSU will face seventh-seeded GCSU in Friday’s quarterfinals. GCSU earned a berth in the tourney by defeating Lander Wednesday.

Francis Marion is the No. 4 seed and ranked 13th in the nation. The Patriots, looking for their third consecutive PBC final appearance, will take on fifth-seeded Flagler. The Saints are ranked No. 22 in the nation.

The tourney format will feature a new look. Instead of all 13 PBC teams advancing to tournament play, only the top eight seeds will vie for the championship. All quarterfinal rounds will be played on Friday starting at noon with the semifinals on Saturday. The PBC Championship match will be held on Sunday at 10:00 am. Admission to all matches is free.  (Tournament Bracket)