SPOKANE, Wash – The Gonzaga women's tennis team opens its home fall schedule this weekend as it hosts the Bulldog Invite Oct. 5-7 at The Stevens Center. The Bulldogs host six teams representing the Big Sky, Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the Pac-12 for their first home tournament of the season.
 
"We really just want to get some experience," said Gonzaga head women's tennis coach D.J. Gurule. "We're defending our home in our first tournament, which is kind of great to play on our home courts. But our goal is the same as it always is in the fall: get as much experience as we can and work out some kinks. It'll give us an idea of what we have to work on."
 
The Bulldog Invite is the first of four team tournaments for the Zags this season, and it will provide a solid regional field. Gonzaga hosts Idaho, Eastern Washington, Seattle, Montana State, Washington and Montana this weekend. The tournament will feature five singles draws and two doubles draws.
 
"I just love fall tournaments because they prepare us for the spring which is team competition," senior Graciela Rosas said. "Right now we're getting mentally and physically strong; we're working pretty hard. This is like our preseason in that fall tournaments are more individual, but it gives you confidence and helps you build that up."
 
All matches for the Bulldog Invite will be played at The Stevens Center. Live streaming is available here, and both doubles and singles play will be streamed for the entirety of the tournament.
 
"Every year is new," Gurule said. "Doubles is interesting because it's a lot about talent but it's also about the chemistry between the players…I think the fall is a really good time for us to figure all of that out."