The Iowa women’s tennis team is excited to begin fall tournament play this weekend at the Minnesota Gopher Invitational.

The Hawkeyes are coming off an encouraging season, and now they’re looking to take a huge step forward, beginning this weekend in Minneapolis.

“We’re hoping to bring home some hardware,” head coach Daryl Greenan said. “It’s important to go up there and compete hard.”

A win to begin the season would benefit the team in the long run, he said. He’s hoping that the team establishes itself right away.

“I think it would definitely give us a big boost if we went far in the draws,” he said. “If somebody wins a draw or gets to the finals, it will give us some good, positive energy for the rest of the way.”

The team has been working to prepare, practicing almost every day in order to meet some lofty goals.

For a game-like feel, the Hawks have been practicing against each other. Now, tired of that, the women are ready to compete with other schools.

“We’ve been playing against ourselves and our teammates, which is really hard because you don’t want to beat up on your teammate,” junior Jessica Young said. “So it’s nice to go and play, and be like, ‘I really want to kick your butt.’ ”

Young is ready to board the bus to Minneapolis. This season and first tournament are especially important to her.

“This is my first year that I haven’t started the year injured so I’m excited to see where I’m at,” she said. “I didn’t play in this tournament last year because I was coming off surgery. I also have family there, and they’re coming to watch.”

Injuries are something the tennis team has become accustomed to, and this season won’t be any different.

Two Hawkeyes are dealing with injuries, although neither are serious.

Sophomore Ally Majercik will sit out the Gopher Invitational with an undisclosed injury. She didn’t practice this week, but she plans to attend the tournament with the team to lend support.

Junior Alexis Dorr sat out of practice this week as a precautionary measure to heal a minor sprained ankle.

Majercik and Dorr were slated to be doubles partners, but with Majercik’s injury, Dorr will participate as a single.

The tournament is composed of three flights, and players must qualify to remain in competition for the tournament.

The Hawkeyes have been to the Gopher Invitational before, traveling there last year.

“We did it last year, so we’re familiar with it,” junior Lynne Poggonsee-Wei said. “It’s our first competition, so we’re trying to get ready for it.”

The Hawkeyes are upbeat largely because of their coach. Greenan is entering his sixth season with the Hawkeyes and has led the team to a 64-51 (.557) overall record.

“It’s the first tournament; I’m excited to see the girls compete,” he said. “They’ve been beating up on each other. I think for this point in the season, they are ready for it. We’ll have to see how they do against some good competition up there.”