BOONE, N.C. - The Appalachian State University women's tennis team ignites its spring season this weekend at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Spring, W. Va. with a pair of matches against Liberty and James Madison. The Mountaineers face Liberty on Saturday and James Madison on Sunday.

ASU's match up with Liberty will be the fourth ever meeting between the two teams, with the last coming on February 20, 2009 where the Flames topped App 6-1. Even though these two have only met a few times in their history, this past fall season the Black and Gold faced a number of Liberty players at the Radford Invitational.

The Flames, who play in the Big South Conference, return two players that received all-conference honors last season in seniors Jordan Jenkins and Hannah Fick.

James Madison (0-1) finished last season with a 9-8 record. The Dukes are also beginning their 2011 spring campaign, but it already has a loss this season to California University (Pa.).

JMU, who participates in the Colonial Athletic Association, returns three all-conference players in sophomore Katherine Bulling, junior Kinsey Pate and senior Kristin Nimitz.

The Mountaineers return three key players from last year's 9-13 squad, senior Amanda Cash and sophomores Ellie Linsell and Jennifer Ansari.

Linsell earned second team all-Southern Conference and all-freshman honors last season. The English native is only the fourth Mountaineer since 1985 to receive a postseason accolade.

Appalachian's match with Liberty begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Mountaineers will then turn around and play James Madison on Sunday at 2 p.m.