TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Northeastern State will make its 28th consecutive postseason appearance Friday, facing Missouri Western in the opening round of the MIAA Women's Tennis Tournament in Springfield, Missouri.

The RiverHawks (12-9, 5-4 MIAA) enter as the No. 5 seed and will meet the No. 4 seed Griffons for the fourth time in tournament history. Northeastern State improved by six wins from the previous season and finished with a winning conference record.

Missouri Western posted a 16-4 overall mark and went 7-2 in MIAA play, tying for second in the league standings before falling on a tiebreaker.

In the regular-season meeting, Missouri Western earned a 6-1 victory in an indoor match. Daisy Barrow accounted for Northeastern State's lone point, winning in both doubles and singles play.

Northeastern State holds a 15-7 advantage in the all-time series, though Missouri Western has won seven of the past eight meetings.

The winner of Thursday's match will advance to face top-seeded Central Oklahoma in the semifinals.

First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Cooper Tennis Complex.