OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (May 24) -- Seattle Pacific University will be pitted again two regional champions in its initial qualifying heat Friday at the NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships.

The Falcons’ varsity eight drew two-time defending champion Western Washington and South region champion Nova Southeastern for the 2000-meter race at 6:30 a.m. Pacific on Melton Lake. UC San Diego, Florida Tech and Dowling are in the first heat.

Winners advance to Sunday’s championship race. The others meet in a repachage Saturday to determine the other two spots.

Western, the No. 1-ranked eight in Division II, has beaten SPU by open water in three previous meetings this season. The Falcons were ranked No. 4 by Row2k, just ahead of Nova and FIT.

The Seattle Pacific lineup: stroke-Rachel Savage (So., Encinitas, Ca/San Dieguito), 7-Katie Wolff (Jr., Bridgewater, Vt./Mid Vermont Christian), 6-Amy Burns (So., Palm Springs, Ca./Desert Chapel), 5-Rachel Strand (Sr., Shoreline, Wa./King's), 4-Kay Chikos (Fr., Renton, Wa./Kentridge), 3-Erin Arkin (Fr., Tacoma, Wa./Academy Northwest), 2-Melissa Blevins (Fr., Walla Walla, Wa.), bow?Katie Wilner (So., Everett, Wa./Everett), coxswain-Megan Giske (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor). Alternates– Denise Filley (Fr., Mesa, Az./Dobson) and Heather Waggoner (Fr., Sandy, Or./Mount Si).