BOSTON - For the first time in program history, Albany will be the top seed for the America East Women's Tennis Championship as the seeds and bracket for the 2016 tournament, which will be held April 22-24 at Wilde Lake Tennis Club in Columbia, Md., were announced Wednesday afternoon. 

The Great Danes are followed by #2 Stony Brook, #3 UMBC, #4 Binghamton and #5 Hartford. The seeds were determined by a ranking of the league's head coaches based on the criteria of head-to-head competition, common opponents, strength of schedule and overall record.

Action begins on Friday with an opening round match between #4 Binghamton and #5 Hartford at 1 p.m. The winner of that match will face top-seeded Albany in the first semifinal match Saturday at 10 a.m. #2 Stony Brook and #3 UMBC will square off in the second semifinal at 2 p.m. The 2016 champion will be crowned Sunday at 12 p.m.

Albany (12-7) has won four straight matches, six of its last seven and nine of its last 11, including shutout victories over Stony Brook and Hartford. The Great Danes have reached the championship match in three of the last four years, but are seeking their first league crown.

Stony Brook (9-6) has won the last four America East titles and enters the championship having won four of its last six matches. Elizabeth Tsvetkov, the 2015 Rookie of the Year, will lead the Seawolves after compiling a 21-5 singles record in the regular-season.

UMBC (4-8) went 2-1 against America East foes this year with wins over Binghamton and Hartford. Mariami Dolashvili earned first-team All-Conference honors in both singles and doubles last year and will lead the Retrievers.

Binghamton (7-12) began its season 5-3 but has won just two of its last 11 matches. Olga Ostrovetsky leads Binghamton with 12 singles wins on the season.

Hartford (5-15) is in search of its first championship victory since 2001. Skyler Schaar plays at the top spot for Hartford. She earned second-team All-Conference honors in doubles last year.