The Girls High School National Invitational Championship is poised to host 14 teams across two competitions – an eight-team Division I and six-team Division II – on May 16-17 at Pittsburgh’s Founder’s Field.

West Coast teams comprise half of DI. California has sent NorCal champ Danville (2), four-time reigning national champion Fallbrook (3), and 2014 DII national champ Pleasanton (5), while Washington state champ Kent (4) returns to the top tier of competition.

State champions and Midwest finalists Divine Savior Holy Angels (3) and St. Joseph’s Academy (6) represent Wisconsin and Ohio, respectively, while the East Coast pins its hopes to New Jersey leader Morris (7) and Virginia power West End (8).

Pleasanton, Morris, and West End all competed in DII last year. The teams earned their promotions, but the absence of Sacramento and the relegation of Catholic Memorial to Division II has freed up some seeds in the top tier.

“We really look long and hard at current results, each year, for all the seeding, wherever possible,” confirmed Catholic Memorial coach John Waliszewski, who is also on the National Girls Coaches Committee (NGCC), the group that hosts the national tournament every year. “We’re in DII because we are 5^th in the Midwest and have lost four matches this year. Certainly injuries may be a factor for Catholic Memorial, especially with a small roster, but bottom line is that our results are an indication of where our team is at so far.”

That rationale explains why Fallbrook is ranked third in the competition. Presumably, the NGCC used Fallbrook’s losses to Danville and Pleasanton during the Fullerton International Tournament to bump the Warriors out of the top spot. The Lady Oaks moved into second place, while the Dashers, who were undefeated throughout the year, got the top seed.

Since Division II has downsized to six teams, the field is broken into two pools of three. The Crusaders (1) lead the Red Pool, and are joined by Maryland state runner-up North Bay (3), and 2014 N.Y. Upstate champ Kenmore (6). The Blue Pool looks interesting, as SoCal runner-up South Bay (2) will kick off the day against State College (4), which would have been in the hunt for the Pennsylvania state title if it hadn’t committed to the Pittsburgh tournament. Connecticut’s Cheshire (5) rounds out the pool.

Massachusetts’ Berkshire United, which had hosted last year’s tournament, pulled out of DII due to injuries, and the fact that Rugby Pennsylvania scheduled the state championship on the same weekend meant fewer (good) local teams were available to participate.

Games will be livestreamed here. Stay tuned for previews.