SPOKANE, Wash. -

ON TAP: The Gonzaga University women's rowing team begins the spring season Saturday racing both Oregon State University and the University of Victoria at Dexter Lake outside of Eugene, Ore. Racing, which also features each schools respective men's squad's, starts at 9 a.m.

ABOUT OREGON STATE AND VICTORIA: The Oregon State University women's rowing squad placed seventh at the 2013 Pac-12 Championships, finishing fourth in four races for 6.5 points. The University of Victoria recently placed fourth at the Canadian Collegiate National Championship. The National Championship took place in November.

WHO IN THE VARSITY BOAT RETURNS: The 2014 Gonzaga University women's rowing Varsity 8+ has five rowers in its boat this weekend that helped the Varsity 8+ boat win the WIRA Championships, the WCC Championships and earn a berth into its first-ever NCAA Rowing Championship a season ago. The five returning members are Naseeb Bhangal, Kara Soucek, Devyn Bell, Brooklyn Beeler, Maloria McGill and Casey Burt.

QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH GLENN PUTYRAE ON OPENING THE SPRING SEASON: "As always, the first race of the season there is a lot of unknowns. At this point we have been doing a lot of training indoors; we are just starting to get on the water and figure out who is taking what they have done on land and turning it into speed on the water. The lineups are rough but they are as close as we can determine as coaches right now given the time we have had on the water and what they have done over the course of winter training. We are excited about the opportunity to find out how fast we are at this point against two quality opponents in Oregon State and the University of Victoria."

GONZAGA ROWING ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK: You can follow Gonzaga University women's rowing on Twitter and Facebook for all the up-to-date news and results. The Bulldogs twitter handle is www.twitter.com/zagsrowing and click here to like their Facebook page. You can also follow Zag head coach Glenn Putyrae on twitter at www.twitter.com/GCrewCoachP.

GONZAGA LINEUPS:

Varsity 8+: Naseeb Bhangal, Kara Soucek, Devyn Bell, Maddie Turbes, Brooklyn Beeler, Malori McGill, Casey Burt, Sarah Atkins, Madeleine Verspieren.

Second Varsity 8+: Laura Brasch, Madison Keaty, Becca Benoit, Erin Russell, Ingrid Stansberry, Alyssa Bashor, Jordan Davies, Meghan McCallum, Victoria Olney.

Varsity 4+: Megan Dennison, Wendy Wigg, Brenna Brown, Elenor Hammond, Briana Ledoux.

Second Varsity 4+: Jordan Schroeder, Hannah Brown, Lily Rorick, Megan Carroll, Natalie Potts.

Novice 8+: Sharon Henzler, Clare Manthey, Shaylee Kieffer, Nia Rivers, Carly Rix, Kamrin Sorenson, Olivia Marsh, Patricia Costanzo, Emma Wantanbe.

Open 8+: Hailey Rosseau, Taylor Mills, Amelie Tristant, Megan Lantsberger, Madeline Coughlin, Sophie Oswald, Meg Costella, Marissa Reisenauer, Marisa Boras.

OREGON STATE RACE SCHEDULE