The University of Northern Iowa women's tennis team will get its season underway, as well as kick-start head coach Mariana Cobra's first season at the helm of the program, this weekend in the Gopher Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn.

"I am excited to get the season underway," Cobra said. "We have been practicing well and I'm looking forward to some outside competition. Our goal this fall is to use the competition to get better and improve for the spring season."

The Gopher Invitational will take place Sept. 14-16 at the Baseline Tennis Center. The tournament will feature Air Force, Eastern Michigan, Gustavus Adolphus, St. Catherine University, UNI, Iowa, UW-Milwaukee, and Minnesota.

The event will be divided into three singles flights and two doubles flights. Singles will consist of 16 players in each flight (Gold - A Flight, Maroon - B Flight, and Gopher - C Flight). Doubles will also highlight 16 teams in each flight (Gold - A Flight, Maroon - B Flight).

The three-day event will begin at 9 a.m. (CT) every morning with practice courts available at 7:30 a.m. Friday will begin with doubles competition, followed by singles.