EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team will kick off the 2010-11 season this weekend with two different events in Whitewater.

The Blugolds will open the year against UW-Whitewater at 3:30 p.m. Friday and will follow with the Warhawk Invitational on Saturday with events getting underway at 9 a.m.

Eau Claire, which finished third in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) the last two seasons, returns six letterwinners from last year's team. Four new players are also part of the squad this season.

A couple of returners did well at the WIAC Championship last season.

Taylor Heltne (So.-Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) won the No. 6 singles title while taking second with partner Megan Born (Jr.-Antigo, Wis.) at No. 3 doubles. Born also finished second at No. 3 singles.

In addition to the new players, the Blugolds will be led by a different coach than last season, though he has previous experience coaching the Blugold women. Tom Gillman took over the reigns as head coach last month. He also coached the Blugold women from 2001-04 and will also serve as the men's tennis head coach. Gillman's daughter Katie Gillman (Fr.-Red Wing, Minn.) will also be on this year's team.