The Iowa women’s tennis team will open its season this weekend at the Gopher Invitational in Minneapolis, hosted by Minnesota.

The Hawkeyes will go up against eight teams, with Iowa and Minnesota the only Big Ten teams. Air Force, Eastern Michigan, Gustavus, St. Catherine’s, Northern Iowa, and Wisconsin-Milwakuee round out the field.

Two freshmen will take the court for the Hawkeyes — Annette Dohanics and Caitlin Hindmarsh.  Dorhanics was a five-star recruit out of Pittsburgh, ranked at No. 64 by TennisRecruiting.net.

Hindmarsh hails from Sunderland, England, and has achieved a 425th International Tennis Federation ranking.

Junior Christina Harazin and sophomores Morven McCulloch and Ellen Silver will round out the field for the Hawkeyes.

Harazin finished 5-18 in dual meets during the spring season playing in the Nos. 3-6 singles. Silver posted a 6-14 record in the Nos. 4-6 slot. McCulloch posted a 11-12 record in the Nos. 2-3 spot.

Silver, paired with former Hawkeye Sonja Molnar, won their bracket championship at the Gopher Invitational last season, and Harazin claimed the consolation championship in the singles flight.

“All of our players put a lot of work in this summer on the court, in the gym, and playing in tournaments,” head coach Katie Dougherty said in a release. “I’m excited about our first opportunity to compete and assess where we are.”

Junior Ruth Seaborne and sophomore Shelby Talcott are ranked the No. 58 doubles team by the International  Tennis Association, but this pair will not compete, individually or together, this weekend.

The Hawkeyes will compete today, Saturday, and Sept. 16.

— by Molly Irene Olmstead