Sept. 7, 2011

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's tennis team opens its 2011 fall schedule at the Drake Invitational this weekend.

The Panthers will be part of a competitive field that includes Northern Iowa, Wichita State, Nebraska, Creighton, Nebraska-Omaha and the host Bulldogs.

"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to bring our team to this early fall invite," head coach Sean McInerney said. "In my opinion, the most important part of the fall season is building a team identity - a way we compete, act, communicate and support each other. I will be looking to our upperclassmen to lead by example and give us that positive leadership that all winning programs have. It is their turn to lead and I think they are looking forward to leaving a positive mark in the Panther tennis program."

The Panthers' veteran group is led by Horizon League Newcomer of the Year Maddy Soule. The roster includes three other juniors and sophomore Kristin Kurer. Senior Megan Gow will miss this weekend's action because of injury.

Meanwhile, newcomers Christina Colarossi and Chelsea Bailey are both expected to make an immediate impact.

"Our freshmen will be a good mix between excited and nervous," McInerney said. "They have all the talent to have an immediate impact on our program and I am looking forward to watching them compete. The important thing is for them to understand it will be a process that takes time. We will use this weekend as a teaching tool for them to develop the style of play and court positioning that will maximize their success at the Division I level."

Each team will play three rounds of doubles on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, the singles brackets will be played. Over the course of the weekend, each player will be guaranteed three doubles matches and three singles matches. There are seven singles flights and four doubles flights, with no team scores kept.